Hunterston: Drill ship goes adrift off the Ayrshire coast amid winds of up to 70mph

One of the drill ships at Hunterston terminal on the Ayrshire coast broke away from its moorings, amid winds of up to 70mph, last night.
A drill ship, the DS4, at Hunterston terminal on the Ayrshire coast has broken away from its moorings.A drill ship, the DS4, at Hunterston terminal on the Ayrshire coast has broken away from its moorings.
A drill ship, the DS4, at Hunterston terminal on the Ayrshire coast has broken away from its moorings.

The ship, known as the DS4, broke away from its moorings at Hunterston - a deep water dock where ships are laid-up when not on a commission.

Largs and Millport Weekly News reported that at 7.22pm on Tuesday, February 2, Largs Lifeboat was called to the scene.

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Lifeboat spokesperson Alasdair Woods, said the Largs lifeboat was in attendance, along with a tug from Greenock, the Troon lifeboat and a coastguard helicopter.

He added: "The wind was blowing at 60 knots when the ship broke away. The hope is that with the ship anchored the tug will be able to help get it back in position."

Police Scotland confirmed that they were called to support the coastguard.

An official statement on behalf of managers, Noah Shipmanagement, said: “Managers of the drill ship,DS4, laid up at Hunterston, state the vessel broke her shoreside moorings at 1900hrs February 2 in very high winds and drifted into the Hunterston Channel.

"The vessel however held position on its anchor some 150 meters of the berth, and is currently safe. There were no injuries or pollution. Three tugs were mobilized as a prudent measure.”

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