A rescue operation was launched last night after a serious fire broke out in the engine of an oil rig supply ship about 120 miles off the south-west coast.
Half of the 22-member crew were airlifted to safety from the British vessel by two helicopters despatched from bases in Britain. The Naval vessel, the LE Aisling, was at the scene early today.
The vessel, the Toisa Gryphon, is to be tugged back to Britain today.