250-foot ship owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's estate tips over at Edinburgh, Scotland dockyard
Photos show RV Petrel, previously used in deep-sea wreck discoveries, listing after being battered by strong winds in Edinburgh
Ship owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's estate topples in Scottish dry dock
Twenty-five people were injured when a ship came off its holding and tipped on its side in a dry dock in Leith, Scotland, Wednesday, the Scottish Ambulance Service said, with 15 taken to hospital. (Reuters)
A research ship owned by the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has tipped over at a dockyard in Scotland Wednesday, leaving at least 25 injured.
The "terrifying" incident involving the RV Petrel outside of Edinburgh happened after it became "dislodged from its holding in strong winds," Scottish politician Adam McVey said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this morning's accident in Leith. Sadly many are seriously injured. We are supporting those we can," Sailors’ Society, a Christian charity dedicated to supporting merchant seafarers, wrote on Facebook.
Images showed the 250-foot ship tilted about 45 degrees to the side.
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Medical personnel are seen arriving following the incident Wednesday involving the RV Petrel ship near Edinburgh, Scotland. (@Tomafc83/LOCAL NEWS X/TMX)
The Petrel ship, which made global headlines for discovering the long-lost USS Indianapolis in 2017, among other deep-sea wrecks, was placed in long-term moorage in 2020 due to "operational challenges" from the coronavirus pandemic.
"The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has changed the world for the long term in ways that we never could have imagined," read a post on the ship’s Facebook page in June that year.
The toppled RV Petrel ship at Imperial dock in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 22. (Reuters / Reuters Photos)
"We were tasked with a monumental mission -- discover, educate, and honor -- and we’re hopeful we will eventually be back in service," it added.
The Scottish Ambulance Service told the BBC on Wednesday that 15 people have been hospitalized after the ship tipped over, while another 10 have been treated and discharged at the scene.
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The ship tipped over during high winds, according to a Scottish politician. (Twitter/@_HausOfVictor/via REUTERS / Reuters Photos)
Police Scotland reportedly are urging the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency vehicles to enter.
Dales Marine Services, the owner of the dry dock where the incident happened, told the BBC that "our priority is to ensure those involved are supported."
In 2017, the RV Petrel found the wreck of the World War II-era USS Indianapolis in the Philippine Sea.
The Indianapolis was sank by the Japanese on July 30, 1945, resulting in the deaths of more than 850 crew members on board.
It was the largest loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
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The RV Petrel has been at the dry dock since 2020, before it toppled over on Wednesday. (Reuters)
"To be able to honor the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role during World War II is truly humbling," Allen said in a statement at the time.
The Petrel also has found the wreckage of the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga after it was sunk by U.S. forces during World War II's Battle of Midway.
FOX Business' Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.