At least 33 people have been injured after a ship became dislodged and tipped over in high winds at a dockyard in Edinburgh.

The Scottish ambulance service reports that 21 people were taken to hospital after the incident, which happened on Wednesday morning (22 March 2023) at Imperial Dock in Leith. A further 12 people were treated for injuries at the scene and later discharged.

The Scottish Ambulance Service took 15 people to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, four to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and two to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Emergency services including the air ambulance and coastguard were called at around 8.35am, after the research vessel RV Petrel, owned by the US Navy, became dislodged from its holding. By around 1.20pm, all casualties were confirmed as being removed from the area and everyone accounted for.

Images and videos taken at the scene and shared on social media show the boat tilted at a 45-degree angle.

Leith councillor Adam McVey shared a photo of the vessel taken by @Tomafc83, and Tweeted that the incident had been ‘terrifying’ for those on board, warning people to avoid the area.

Chaplain of the port, Pauline Robertson, from the Sailors Society, told Sky News that workers were left in “complete disbelief” by the incident.

“People were shocked and stunned, slightly dazed,” she said.

“There was a lot of repeating of ‘what have I just witnessed?’ and trying to make sense of it because it is just not something you see.

“The staff that had been on the vessel shared with me their shock, their complete disbelief that this had happened, but also the fact that they had got off that vessel as walking wounded because many of their colleagues and other staff that were on it didn’t and had to go to hospital for medical treatment.”

She added: “I think they were just relieved to be sitting in the warehouse.”

Petrel was previously bought and refitted by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, although his estate no longer owns the vessel.

Winds of up to 38mph were recorded in Edinburgh at 8am on Wednesday, while Met Office data shows a 44mph gust was recorded at 9am.

Superintendent Mark Rennie says: “I would like to thank partner agencies involved in the response to this incident which involved a complex operation to make sure everyone was safe.

“There is no risk to the wider public and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what has happened. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

“I would also like to thank the public for their patience while the emergency services undertook a very difficult job aiding casualties. We continue to ask people to avoid the area.”

Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, has so far issued no comment to media.

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