Oil tanker struck offshore platform on New Year’s Eve

A Portuguese-flagged chemical tanker sustained damage after hitting an offshore platform in the North Sea, on New Year’s Eve.

Owned by John T Essberger from Germany, the 2013-built tanker Elsa Essberger was on its way from Antwerp to Malmo when it struck an unused production platform in the North Sea.

It struck the Unocal Q1 Halfweg platform, located some 28 kilometres west of Julianadorp, causing damage to the platform’s legs and its bow. No pollution has been reported.

According to VesselsValue data, the chemical tanker did not continue its journey to Malmo, as the VV map shows the vessel as moored in Rotterdam.

As for the platform hit by the tanker, it was installed in March 1995 in the Dutch sector of the southern North Sea. It was designed for ‘self-installation” and consists of a concrete gravity base which supports a manned process deck by means of four tubular steel legs in 24 metres water depth.

The platform was initially operated by Unocal, a company later taken over by Chevron. Chevron then sold its Dutch offshore assets to Petrogas in 2014.