Drifting barge sparks North Sea alert

An unmanned barge, which had recently left Orkney, sparked a North Sea alert in the early hours of this morning.

The 35-metre barge was being towed from Stromness to Lowestoft, in Suffolk, when it became disconnected from the boat pulling it. It was said to be drifting “close” to the Teeside Offshore Windfarm, but was later reconnected, after several attempts, just after 5am.

The RNLI Hartlepool all-weather lifeboat was asked to assist.