Investigation Underway as Three North Sea Crew Die

An investigation was launched yesterday after three seamen died after being airlifted off an offshore support vessel in the North Sea.

The three crew members were airlifted from emergency response and rescue vehicle The Viking Islay, but died in hospital soon afterwards.

The vessel, operated by Scottish company Vroon Offshore Services, was supporting the Ensco 92 drilling rig on BP's Amethyst gas field in the southern North Sea.

"The details of the incident are still to be established but it would appear that the men were undertaking an operation to secure an anchor chain in a storage area in the bow of the vessel," said Vroon CEO Graham Philip.

The remaining nine crew members on the vessel are safe. The vessel is now undergoing a full investigation by Vroon and the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

By Ozge Ibrahim