Harbour Energy has confirmed that more than 50 personnel were evacuated from the Valaris 120 jackup rig in the North Sea after it was struck by a nearby supply vessel. The incident occurred late on Sunday night, approximately 149 miles southeast of Aberdeen, near the Judy offshore platform.
As a precaution, 52 non-essential workers were airlifted from the rig on Monday morning via three separate flights to Aberdeen. At the time of the collision, the Valaris 120 had 128 personnel onboard. Harbour Energy stated that all individuals from both the rig and the vessel were safe and unharmed.
A Harbour Energy spokesperson commented: “People are our priority, and everyone onboard the rig and the vessel is safe and well. Our incident response teams have been mobilised and are in liaison with the relevant authorities. Further information will be made available when details are confirmed.”
The Valaris 120, which has previously faced operational challenges such as a crane collapse, is currently contracted to Harbour Energy under a three-year extension agreed in September with Bermuda-based Valaris. The rig is deployed alongside Harbour’s Judy platform, part of its J-Area operations—the company’s largest production hub in 2023.
Harbour Energy is one of the UK North Sea’s largest independent oil and gas producers. The company has activated its incident response protocols and is working closely with authorities to assess any potential impact on operations.
This incident highlights ongoing operational risks in the North Sea as companies navigate complex offshore environments while maintaining safety as a top priority. Further updates are expected as investigations continue.
