Disabled Ship Drifting Towards North Sea Gas Platform In 55 Knot Storm- AFP

[hatrack]

A cargo ship was adrift off the east coast of England Thursday and heading for a collision with a gas platform, sparking a scramble to evacuate those on the rig. The 4,500-tonne Vindo, with nine people on board, had lost engine power in the North Sea and was drifting towards the Murdoch gas platform, nine nautical miles (17 kilometres) away, in 55-knot (100 kilometre per hour) winds.

The ship, carrying 4,200 tonnes of fertiliser, began drifting off the Lincolnshire coast after its engine failed.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that 20 crew from the platform were being flown off the platform and away from the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged vessel. No crew had been evacuated from the Vindo, it added.

Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force rescue centre at Kinloss in Scotland, told Sky News television: "This is the original white knuckle ride."

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Stricken_Ship_On_Collision_Course_With_British_Gas_Rig_999.html

[HeeBGBz]

1. Fertilizer and gas?

What is it? The S.S. Timothy McVeigh?

[n2doc]

2. LOL!

I know it is bad, but damn, that is a good one!

[SaveAmerica]

3. Please rent a tux in anticipation of the next DUzy award ceremony...

that's a winner!

[FogerRox]

6. Same damn thought I had........

[HeeBGBz]

7. All of the above

Thank you.

[SaveAmerica]

4. I believe that the vessel narrowly missed the gas platform, I read

that somewhere in the past couple days. I'll see if I can find the source for that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Sounds like the S.S. Bush war plan -adrift aimlessly, but dangerous