Offshore Supply Vessel Hits Jackup Rig In North Sea, Workers Evacuated In Safety Precaution

An offshore supply vessel struck a jackup rig, Valaris 120, in the UK North Sea on Sunday night (November 24), leading to the partial evacuation of workers on board as a safety precaution.

The allision occurred at around 10:15 PM, approximately 150 miles east of Aberdeen, Scotland, when the vessel struck one of the rig’s legs.

At the time of the incident, 128 personnel were aboard the Valaris 120. Fifty-two non-essential workers were flown off the rig to Aberdeen in three separate flights, confirmed Harbour Energy, the rig’s operator.

Harbour Energy assured in a statement that the people are their priority and that everyone onboard the rig and the supply vessel is safe and well, adding that the incident response teams have been mobilized and are in constant touch with the relevant authorities.

Valaris 120, a heavy-duty jackup rig built in 2013, was positioned near Harbour Energy’s Judy platform at the time of the collision. The rig operates in harsh environmental conditions, with a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet and the ability to operate in water depths of up to 470 feet.

It is currently supporting the Judy platform, a manned production installation that processes gas and produces approximately 34,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

The jackup rig, recently granted a contract extension with Harbour Energy through 2028, has been essential to ongoing subsea developments, including tiebacks to nearby fields such as Talbot and Jocelyn South.

Harbour Energy confirmed that production was not impacted after the incident. The company ensured the safety of all involved and continues to coordinate with authorities to assess the situation.

References: BBC, STV News