Oil Rig Moves in North Sea Storm

Rescue helicopters evacuated most of the 77 crew members aboard a Norwegian offshore oil rig Tuesday after several of its anchors broke loose in the North Sea, prompting fears that it might go adrift in a fierce storm.

About 50 nonessential crew members were evacuated by helicopter, while the rest were staying on board to control the rig with its remaining anchors and engines, said Anders Bang-Andersen, spokesman for the rescuers.

“The situation is under control, but storm winds and big waves are not exactly a dream situation,” he said. He said no one was injured or in danger.

Bang-Andersen said the rig had drifted about 925 feet out of position before the remaining anchor chains took up the slack.

Six helicopters flew the crew from the stricken Bideford Dolphin rig, about 95 miles offshore, to an oil platform nearby.

The semi-submersible rig began to drag across the seabed after three of its eight anchor lines snapped in the storm. The vessel was being held by its own propellers and two remaining anchors; the other three anchor lines were intact but slack.

The drilling rig had been working at a field off Norway’s west coast when its anchors dragged, probably due to extreme winds.

According to rescuers, conditions were difficult, with winds up to 75 mph and waves up to 40 feet. Meteorologists predicted that the winds would ease during the evening.

Bang-Andersen said there was no danger of an oil spill.

“This is a floating rig, not a permanent installation. It is the kind of rig that is moved from place to place . . . and I have no information to indicate that it is in any danger of capsizing,” said Helge Stiksrud, a spokesman for the company operating the rig.

The Bideford Dolphin is among the most modern drilling rigs operating off the Norwegian coast and has fully automated operating systems, according to its owner, the Dolphin ASA concern.

Norway’s worst offshore disaster occurred in 1980 when 123 workers died after the Alexander Kielland, a floating hotel for oil workers, capsized in the North Sea.