UK: Crane incident on North Sea platform spurs investigation

A crane collapsed on a platform in the UK sector of the North Sea prompting an investigation by the operating company that notified the Health and Safety Executive of the incident. 

According to BBC, the incident happened early on Wednesday on CNR International-operated Murchison platform, located 280 nautical miles North of Aberdeen, during a lifting operation.

No injuries were reported and all 102 personnel on board the platform were safe and well, the news agency reported.

Offshore Energy Today reached out to CNR seeking confirmation of these reports.

The company’s spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred on Wednesday: “There has been significant damage to the boom on one of the Murchison platform cranes following an incident that occurred during a lifting operation yesterday (9th March).”

The spokesperson also added: “The cause of the incident is still being established, however as a precaution, all crane operations on the platform have been suspended.”

The CNR International owned and operated Murchison field is located in the Northern North Sea Block 211/19, north of Aberdeen in the East Shetland Basin, straddling the United Kingdom/Norwegian sector median line.

The decommissioning activities at the Murchison platform started in the fourth quarter of 2013, and the company estimated the decommissioning efforts would continue for approximately 5 years.

This is not the first time for an accident to happen on the Murchison platform after the decommissioning started. Namely, an injured offshore worker had to be airlifted from the platform to a hospital in December 2014 after being struck by a pipe.

The article has been updated to include a statement by CNR International

Offshore Energy Today Staff