A ship has tipped over at an Edinburgh dockyard in Scotland, causing injuries to 25 people. The incident occurred when the research vessel Petrel became dislodged from its holding on a dry dock at Imperial Dock, Leith. The Scottish Ambulance Service said that 15 people had been taken to hospitals while 10 others were treated at the scene. The ship, which weighs 3,000 tons and is 76 meters long, is owned by the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
It was placed in long-term moorage in 2020 due to “operational challenges” caused by the COVID pandemic and has not been used since. Photos of the vessel on social media showed it leaning at a 45-degree angle. Before being moored, the research vessel was used to search for shipwrecks and war graves at sea, including the USS Indianapolis, which was discovered 18,000 feet below the surface.
This incident is a serious reminder of the dangers of working with large vessels and machinery, as well as the importance of safety regulations and precautions in the workplace. The cause of the ship becoming dislodged is yet to be determined, and investigations are likely to take place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The injuries sustained by the workers are a stark reminder of the risks involved in such work and the importance of proper training and safety measures.
The ship has not been used for some time due to the pandemic, and it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the investigation and any future actions. Our thoughts are with the injured workers and their families, and we hope for a speedy recovery for all those affected.