AERIAL VIEWS OF THE AREA WITH METAL LEG PROTRUDING ABOVE THE SEA, AND AERIAL SHOTS OF SEARCHING VESSELS.




Initials DE/V/MR/SA


(EDITORS: LIBRARY MATERIAL ON THE "SEA GEM" WAS SERVICED YESTERDAY - 27TH DECEMBER 1965 - UNDER PRODUCTION NO. 12348/65)

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Background: DIVERS WERE ON TUESDAY PREPARING TO DIVE INTO THE NORTH SEA TO EXAMINE WHAT IS LEFT OF "SEA GEM" - AN OIL RIG THAT CAPSIZED ON MONDAY SENDING THIRTY-TWO MEN INTO THE ICY SEA. FIVE ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED - AND EIGHT ARE STILL MISSING. AN OFFICIAL OF THE COMPANY OWNING THE RIG SAID THERE WAS A CHANCE SOME OF THE MISSING MAY STILL BE ALIVE, TRAPPED IN AN AIR POCKET INSIDE THE SUNKEN RIG. AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER THE AREA SAW ONLY ONE TILTED METAL LEG PROTRUDING ABOVE THE WAVES. A HUGE OIL SLICK COVERED THE SURFACE OF THE SEA FOR SOME DISTANCE ROUND ABOUT IT.

ALL SURVIVORS OF THE DISASTER ARE IN HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM SHOCK AND OTHER INJURIES. FEW HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE AN ADEQUATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED. BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMPANY OWNING THE RIG REPORTED THAT THE COLLAPSE MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE JACKING OPERATIONS (TO LOWER SEA GEM TO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA) WERE BEING CARRIED OUT. THE RIG WAS TO BE MOVED TO A NEW SITE.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN AMERICAN FIRM WHICH SUPPLIED THE JACKING EQUIPMENT IS ON HIS WAY TO BRITAIN. SIMILAR EQUIPMENT IS IN USE IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND HAS BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

FIFTEEN DIVERS ARE EXAMINING THE SUBMERGED DRILLING PLATFORM MOST OF WHICH IS RESTING 85 FEET (ABOUT 25 METRES) BELOW THE SURFACE.