Rig crash prompts radar fear

The "Rough 33" platform is 27 miles off Yorkshire

A North Sea gas platform evacuated after being struck by a fishing boat did not have an effective radar system fitted, according to a union representing gas and oil workers.

More than 100 workers were rescued after a trawler hit one leg of the platform at 0930 BST on Wednesday, 27 miles off the coast of east Yorkshire.

The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (OILC), has said there was no radar on the installation - although a standby vessel 30 miles from Bridlington was equipped with one.

Jake Molloy from OILC, set up in 1988 after 167 workers died in the Piper Alpha platform fire, said: "Certainly where you have got a cluster of platforms like this, radar [on the rig] should be looked at."

RAF crews winched workers to safety

The rescued workers were transferred by helicopter on to a tanker, and then to Humberside Airport.

All platform staff were accounted for, along with the 21-strong crew of the fishing vessel the Marbella.

Nineteen men stayed on the platform to carry out maintenance work.

Foggy

Mr Molloy said: "I believe the conditions were pretty poor as regards visibility.

"I am not clear on the position as regards stand by vessels, but if there are vessels working in the area maybe that covers too vast an area."

Bill Dimmick, 43, a construction manager for sub-contractor Amec, was on the platform when it was hit.

He said: "We heard the impact and the shudder lasted for three to five seconds.

"The evacuation was carried out very, very well. It was handled extremely well - it was extremely foggy."

The damage to the platform is being assessed, and an investigation is likely to focus on how the vessel came to collide with the giant gas platform.