BBC News | SCOTLAND | Bomb detonated at sea

A World War II torpedo which was found floating near oil platforms in the North Sea has been successfully destroyed in a controlled explosion.

The device was discovered by an oil support ship 150 miles off the coast of Aberdeen and dealt with at around 0345BST on Sunday.

Crew members of the Maersk Chancellor initially thought they had come across a rusty pipe until they started scraping seaweed and molluscs off the object.

E-mail picture

The vessel e-mailed Aberdeen Coastguard with a picture of their find and it was quickly realised it was a 14ft World War II torpedo without its war head.

Bomb disposal experts from the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit at Faslane on the Clyde flew out to the ship - near the Montrose platform - in the early hours of Sunday.

Torpedo

The torpedo is lifted out of the sea

After examining the torpedo they found it still contained its fuel. The area was then cleared of all shipping, explosive charges were attached to the device, it was then placed back in the water and detonated.

Matthew Mace, Aberdeen Coastguard Watch Manager, said: "It seems the torpedo was British and from WW2. Parts of it had rusted and fallen away and it had floated to the surface.

"All credit goes is due to the crew of the Maersk Chancellor for spotting this item in the water, which may, depending on time and tide, have threatened any one of the platforms in a wide area.

"Luckily the weather was force four, easterly winds with slight seas and good visibility."


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