Following an unplanned power blackout on Gas and Gas Condensate rig K15-FB1 (
K15B) in the Dutch Southern North Sea, non-essential personnel were moved to the
Noble George Sauvageau (NGS) mobile platform, which had previously re-located alongside K15B, to assist in drilling two more production holes.
NGS was unable to accomodate these personnel safely overnight and a call was made to the Offshore SAR service provided by Bristow with G-JSAR, from de Kooy. During the return night flight, the helicopter ditched c 10nm NW of Den Helder and a wider SAR operation launched. Two Dutch Navy Lynx, a Dutch Air Force SAR helicopter launched from Leeuwarden and a number of ships were involved. The offshore support standby ship
mv Arca picked up 13 survivors from the sea and
KNRM Dorus Rijkers picked up 3. All were delivered to the
Den Helder Naval Base for treatment. The Bristow Super Puma was recovered but had been seriously damaged.