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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
Since drilling for oil and gas began in the North Sea in the mid 1960s, the possibility of merchant ships colliding with offshore platforms or rigs, has been of concern to both government and operators. There are nearly 100 fixed and floating installations in the UK sector of the North Sea; they vary in size, location and type of construction, but in all cases, collision would pose serious risks to life, pollution and loss of production. Some platforms are near busy shipping lanes and some have several hundred personnel on them at certain times.