Search operations for an offshore worker missing from a North Sea rig have been scaled back. There were no suspicious circumstances related to the disappearance, an investigation has revealed.
To recall, the 49-year-old man had been working on the Noble Lloyd Noble jack-up rig on the Statoil-operated Mariner field, approximately 90 miles (150km) east of Shetland. The alarm was raised on Tuesday after a search of the rig failed to locate the worker.
A UK Coastguard helicopter, an offshore support vessel and other vessels in the area searched overnight (9/10 May) for the missing man.
According to a report by Police Scotland, searches involving the coastguard had been carried out but have now been scaled back. The man has not been traced. Rescue vessels are continuing to search and a team of officers led by Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson has flown offshore to carry out inquiries and assist the installation.
Stevenson said: “An extensive search has been carried out which has involved a search and rescue helicopter as well as standby vessels and a platform supply vessel.
“The next of kin of the man have been informed of the ongoing inquiries and further information will be made available to the public when we have it. There are no apparent suspicious circumstances.”
Noble Lloyd Noble is one of the world’s largest jack-up drilling rigs. It was delivered from Sembcorp Marine’s shipyard last July and started production drilling on the Mariner field last December.
Offshore Energy Today Staff