Tanker Bertora Calls Mayday
At approximately 10 p.m. on Monday, December 23, the Aberdeen Coastguard were alerted by the oil platform Marnock of a Mayday broadcast from the motor tanker Bertora.The 55,756-grt vessel, which measures 230 m, was located approximately 130 miles east of Peterhead when its engines failed.
The vessel's master broadcast a distress call on the distress frequency, which was ultimately received by the rig standby vessel Viking Protector, which then relayed the call to the oil platform - contacting the Aberdeen Coastguard.
Upon examination, it was deemed that the cause of the engine failure was the result of a safety pin in the oil fuel line that had failed and cut off all fuel to the engine. Once this was determined, and the problem rectified, the vessel is now continuing its passage to the Pierce oilfield from Rotterdam.