Schoolboy among five crew missing in oil tug capsize

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Rescue teams were in a race against time to find the five following the accident which killed three others instantly.

The boy's father is also thought to be among the missing Norwegians. Royal Navy divers were searching the Bourbon Dolphin, 75 miles off Shetland, but said it would be a "miracle" if the five were found alive.

Relatives and representatives of the vessel's owner, Bourbon Offshore, were expected to arrive in Shetland on a chartered flight from Norway later today.

The Bourbon Dolphin, pictured as it left Great Yarmouth in January this year

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency relaunched rescue efforts this morning after helicopters failed to find the crewmen last night. A spokeswoman said: "We think the crew are still within the vicinity of the vessel which is bobbing about on the surface. It hasn't sunk."

The missing were part of a 15-strong crew on the tug which overturned at 5.20pm yesterday while undertaking an operation at the drilling rig Transocean Rather. The accident happened in seconds and was thought to be related to anchors.

The Coastguard spokeswoman added: "We are not really expecting to find survivors now. It would be a miracle if they had survived all night in five degrees, freezing water. It's very sad. There is a chance there is an air pocket somewhere, but that chance is ever so slim."

The coast guard assists the capsized ship, Bourbon Dolphin

Ten of the crew were rescued from the 75-metre ship, which is less than a year old. Seven were airlifted to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, Shetland.

The Coastguard spokeswoman said all non-essential personnel were taken off the Transocean Rather platform last night as there was a risk the capsized vessel could damage it.

The missing boy and his father are from the small island fishing community of Heroy on the west coast of Norway. Mayor Arnulf Goksoyr said: "Everyone here is very affected by this to the highest level and hoping they will be okay. The father is a childhood friend of mine.

"I think he must have been the captain of the ship as he has been captaining ships since he was 25 and he's 43 or 44 now."

RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said: "You realise that these guys, if they have managed to find that bubble of air, if they've managed to find just somewhere to keep themselves alive, the divers will get to them."