Seven people remain in hospital after a ship tipped over in a dry dock in Edinburgh.

A major incident was declared after research vessel Petrel became dislodged from its holding at Imperial Dock in Leith on Wednesday morning.

At least 35 people were injured as emergency teams from Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and HM Coastguard sprang into action.

Aerial pictures of the aftermath have since emerged, along with witness accounts of the “scary” incident.

NHS Lothian received 21 patients, with 17 treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) and four at the Western General Hospital (WGH).

Two people were taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where NHS Fife said they currently remain.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said a further 12 people were treated and discharged at the scene, where it had sent a dozen ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams and other resources.

NHS Lothian said five people treated at the scene have since attended the RIE themselves for an additional check-up.

On Thursday, the health board said of those treated at the RIE, 10 have been discharged and five remain in hospital. It was earlier stated that some had suffered “serious injuries”.

The health board added that the four patients at the WGH have since been discharged.

Michelle Carr, service director at NHS Lothian, said: “Five people remain in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh following the major incident at Imperial Dock in Leith, and our thoughts continue to be with everyone affected by this incident.

“Outpatient appointments and elective surgeries have resumed today, and we will be in touch with everyone whose treatment was postponed to rearrange this as soon as possible.

“I want to thank our staff, partners and the public for their tremendous support and cooperation as we worked to maximise our capacity and deliver the best possible care.”

Dock operator’s priority

Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, said all those on board and at the facility had been accounted for.

A spokesperson added: “Our priority is to ensure the wellbeing of all who have been affected.

“We are liaising with the emergency services and relevant authorities in dealing with the ongoing incident. At this time, we cannot comment any further.”

Read more:
Large ship dislodges in Edinburgh dry dock sparking ‘major incident’
‘So scary’: Aerial pictures show hull of research ship that lurched to its side

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The 76m Petrel, which was left leaning at a 45-degree angle, is owned by the US Navy.

It was previously bought and outfitted by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen but was sold by his estate in 2022.

Mr Allen bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks and it discovered around 30 sunken warships, including the Japanese Imperial Navy’s IJN Musashi.

RV Petrel has been moored at Leith since September 2020 due to “operational challenges” from the pandemic, according to a statement on the vessel’s social media page.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and their families’

A US Navy spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the on-site authorities, who are in the best position to help those in need and to provide status updates.

“We will continue to communicate with our contacts at the scene in order to understand what occurred, the actions being taken, and the long-term impacts.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and their families, with hopes for a quick and full recovery.”

Investigations into what happened are under way.

A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said on Thursday: “We will have inspectors at the scene today to begin an investigation into this incident, working with Police Scotland.”

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