How 'dream' about a bomb caused a £1m evacuation of oil rig

In one of the largest operations of its kind, the RAF, police and coastguard were scrambled to airlift 161 staff using eight helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft.

The six-hour operation took place 115 miles off the coast of Scotland.

No bomb was found and an industry expert last night described the evacuation as 'madness' and an "over-reaction".

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The security alert at the Safe Scandinavia is thought to have been sparked by a woman on board

There were reports that the woman, who worked as a caterer, had merely dreamed there was a bomb on the platform before making the claims.

Last night the 23-year-old woman, who is thought to have been sedated, was detained by the offshore installation manager - the most senior member of staff - and police were making arrangements to fly her to shore.

During the evacuation, 161 of the 539 staff on the Safe Scandinavia platform - an accommodation installation attached by a bridge to an oil rig in the Britannia field off the Aberdeen coast - were taken to safety.

Ministry of Defence bomb disposal experts had been placed on standby while police scoured the platform for evidence of an explosive device.

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The oil rig is 175 miles off the coast of Aberdeen

But officers decided by 2.30pm that there was nothing suspicious on board.

The rig's owner, Britannia Operator Ltd, decided to evacuate the accommodation block - or "flotel" - at 9.15am yesterday.

In a statement the company said normal operations would restart as soon as possible.

"The down-man occurred following allegations by a worker on the Safe Scandinavia that there was a possible suspicious device on the flotel," it added.

"A thorough search of the Safe Scandinavia has revealed nothing suspicious and it has now been deemed safe for workers to return to normal operations.

"The 161 workers who had been earlier flown to the neighbouring Alba and Armada platforms are now returning to the Safe Scandinavia."

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The Safe Scandinavia oil rigs were at the centre of a security alert this morning

A Grampian Police spokesman said: "We can confirm we are investigating an alleged incident on a North Sea installation.

"As part of the police inquiry into this matter arrangements are being made for a 23-year- old British woman to be taken on shore.

"The incident is not considered terrorism related. The operating company took precautionary action to down-man.

"However, it has since reversed that decision and it is understood it is presently returning personnel to the installation."

Jake Molloy, general secretary of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee trade union, called the evacuation an "over-reaction".

He said: "I have heard from a number of people on board who have told me this girl is supposed to have had a dream about a bomb being on board and she was a bit shaken.

"She told other people and before long it had grown arms and legs. The next thing workers were being evacuated.

"It was complete madness on behalf of everyone - the company, the police and the RAF.

"There was never any reason to evacuate the platform. There is no way that a bomb could be taken or made offshore.

"But if they wanted to be extra careful, they could have put staff on the neighbouring rig and dragged the flotel away.

"The cost has been astronomical and there was never any need for this."

After the alert, all workers on the flotel were moved on to the rig to await evacuation.

Eight helicopters, including two from RAF Lossiemouth and one operated by Aberdeen Coastguard, joined the rescue operation, which was co- ordinated by an RAF Nimrod surveillance plane.

Sea-going vessels are also understood to have been involved.

"It was unusual for there to be so many workers on the rig at one time, but the Britannia is currently undergoing a major refurbishment," said Mr Molloy.

"It was actually shut down and would have been an unlikely target for a terrorist attack as it would have done little to disrupt the oil and gas supply.

"The security measures in place at heliports servicing the North Sea rigs are incredibly tight and I just cannot imagine how anybody could manage to get an explosive device out to a rig without anybody knowing."

Squadron leader Barry Neilson, from RAF Kinloss, said: "The situation was unusual, that's probably the best way to describe it.

"But it falls within our normal operating procedures and we reacted accordingly."

One worker said increasing numbers of women were now working on oil rigs in support roles, and on accommodation platforms such as the Safe Scandinavia were likely to outnumber the men.