Teenager among missing North Sea crewmen

A 15-year-old schoolboy on work experience is among five crewmen missing on a capsized oil rig vessel in the North Sea.

A 15-year-old schoolboy on work experience is among five crewmen missing on a capsized oil rig vessel in the North Sea.

Three crewmen died after they were rescued from the handling supply tug Bourbon Dolphin, which overturned at around 5.20pm yesterday while undertaking an operation at a drilling rig.

There were 15 Norwegian crew aboard the handling supply tug, which was undertaking an operation at the drilling rig Transocean Rather at the time of the incident.

Ten of the crew were recovered from the vessel but three were later confirmed as dead.

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The seven survivors were airlifted to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, Shetland.

Heat-seeking cameras are being used to search for any sign of the missing crewmen, while rescue helicopters have been scouring the North Atlantic since first light.

But Aberdeen Coastguard said the chances of any more survivors being found were "extremely slim".

As the rescue effort reaches a critical phase, Royal Navy divers from Faslane on the Clyde have been examining the condition of the vessel with the help of a remote operated vehicle fitted with camera.

The 250ft ship, which is less than one-year-old, had been working in the vicinity of the Rosebank oilfield when it capsized just over a mile from the rig. It is still connected to the facility by an anchor chain, said coastguards.

PA