150 rescued from drifting barge

ABERDEEN, Scotland, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Crews on helicopters rescued 150 members of a North Sea barge crew, after the barge broke loose of its tow lines and began drifting near oil platforms.

Some 265 workers were on board the pipe-laying barge, operated by Stolt Offshore, when it broke free from two tug ships in rough waters, SkyNews reported.

The incident occurred Saturday about 170 miles northeast of Aberdeen.

Rescue teams eventually managed to restore two tow lines as the semi-submersible barge drifted into Norwegian waters.

The 150 non-essential workers were airlifted by three rescue and nine civilian helicopters.