Workers evacuated from North Sea platform off Shetland

A North Sea oil platform has been shut down and workers taken off, following a subsea structural inspection.

EnQuest said it evacuated the Thistle Platform, about 125 miles north-east of Shetland, in a precautionary move on Monday evening.

The company said 115 personnel were transferred to a nearby platform by helicopter.

The coastguard said its helicopter and two from the Norwegian offshore sector were involved.

Coastguards were made aware of the situation at about 18:30 BST.

An EnQuest spokeswoman said: "EnQuest can confirm it has proactively down-manned the Thistle Platform today in a precautionary move following a preliminary subsea structural inspection today.

"The platform has been safely shut down in accordance with planned procedures.

"EnQuest is liaising with all relevant authorities including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency."

Source: BBC