Crew moved as lights go out

A North Sea oil platform had to be evacuated over the weekend after being struck by a power cut.

A total of 144 workers were stationed on the West of Shetland Clair platform in the early hours of Saturday morning when the lights went out.

The majority were rushed off the platform before 6am. Operators worked to resolve the issue and production was shut down.

A BP spokesman confirmed that 105 personnel had been take off the site.

He said: “Following a power outage on the Clair platform West of Shetland, BP can confirm that – as a precautionary measure – we are initiating the down manning of 105 non-essential personnel.

“The Clair platform lost power at approximately 5.45am today. The platform was not

“Clair platform lost power at approximately 5.45am today”

producing at the time. We are working to resolve the issue.”

The spokesman said that accommodation in Shetland was being made available to the crew.

Last night staff were being returned to the platform.

The spokesman added: “BP can confirm that power is being restored to the Clair platform following an outage yesterday morning and personnel are beginning to be returned to the platform.”

The Clair Field is the UK’s largest oilfield on the UK continental shelf.

The incident this weekend is not the first time production has been shut down at the site. Last October an oil leak took place, causing BP to carry out 30 surveillance flights. An estimated 95 tonnes of oil was released into the water.