Total Norge is evacuating nearly 300 workers from an accommodation rig in the North Sea after two of the unit’s twelve anchor chains broke during a storm with winds reaching near hurricane strength.

The Port Reval is operating on the Frigg field which lies on the border between the Norwegian and British sectors of the North Sea. The accommodation rig is being used house the workers that are dismantling facilities at the field. Port Reval was built in 1976 and is owned by Awilco Offshore ASA.

Eight helicopters were chartered in for the evacuation operation to Sola airport just south of Stavanger. Of the 324 workers on board, a minimum staff of thirty-eight would remain on the rig. “There are no human lives in danger. This is a controlled evacuation,” said Inga Nyboe, a spokeswoman for Total Norge said.

Port Reval is a semi submersible of Aker H-3 (enhanced) design. The unit has accommodation for 362 persons.