Rescue drama as oil rig drifts

The mountainous seas caused mayhem for boats

A big rescue operation is under way to pluck dozens of workers from a North Sea oil rig, after several of its anchor chains broke as it was lashed by hurricane force winds off the coast of Norway.

At least six helicopters and a number of vessels were involved in the operation.

Seventeen crew will stay on the Bideford Dolphin

The rig, the Bideford Dolphin, is about 150km (90 miles) northwest of Bergen.

"We have lifted off 51 of the 77 crew. The other 26 will stay aboard overnight to stabilise the rig," said rescue services spokeswoman Eldbjoerg Vaage

They were being taken to a nearby oil platform.

Lashed by waves

There have been no reports of injuries.

The rig, operated by Norsk Hydro, was being lashed by 14-metre (45 ft) waves as the rescue operation got under way.

The semi-submersible rig began to drag across the seabed after three of its eight anchors lines snapped in the storm.

It drifted about 300 metres (925 feet) out of position before the remaining anchor chains took up the slack.

The vessel is now being held by its own propellers and two remaining anchors with the other three anchor lines intact but slack.

A spokesman for Norsk Hydro said the rig, which is involved in exploration in the Snorre field, could start drifting again.

Scottish deaths

The severe weather has also caused problems in Scotland, where two men were killed when their boat overturned at Irvine, Ayrshire.

Some homes have been left without power and thousands of seabirds are believed to have perished.

An Icelandic fishing vessel, the Hafnarey, has also been caught in the gales.

It was being towed into harbour after navigational equipment was damaged in gale force winds of around 160km (100 miles) an hour north of the Butt of Lewis.