Dozens injured after 3000-ton ship topples over in Scotland dry dock

Dozens of workers were injured after a ship that was previously owned by the co-founder of Microsoft toppled over in a dry dock during high winds. Photo / AP

A large ship has toppled over while dry-docked in Scotland, injuring 25 people, emergency workers say.

Police and emergency services were called to the Imperial Dock in Edinburgh after receiving reports that a ship had become dislodged from its holding on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday NZT).

The Scottish Ambulance Service said 15 people were taken to the hospital, while 10 others were treated and discharged at the scene. Local police urged the public to avoid the area to allow access for emergency services.

Emergency services transport an injured person from Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh. Photo / AP

Photos from the scene showed the ship leaning to the side at a 45-degree angle. Adam McVey, a local official, tweeted that it became dislodged due to strong winds.

The 76 metre-long, 3000-ton vessel, named the Petrel, was a research vessel previously bought and outfitted by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Petrel is equipped with deep-sea exploration technology and has led several high-profile missions to locate historic shipwrecks, including the discovery of the USS Indianapolis in 2017 in the Philippine Sea.

The BBC reported the ship had been moored since 2020 due to challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Several workers on the docks told The Telegraph that they believed the high winds were the sole reason for the incident.

A local politician said the 250-foot research vessel outfitted by Microsoft's co-founder was "dislodged from its holding in strong winds." https://t.co/CeTxfxL8yl

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 22, 2023

Several workers on the docks told The Telegraph that they believed the high winds were the sole reason for the incident. Photo / AP