Shell has been fined over £6000 after a diesel leak on board a North Sea platform.

Between 13 and 15 tonnes spilled into the sea from the Brent Bravo, 116 miles north east of Lerwick, in May 2013 while the platform underwent a scheduled shut-down for routine maintenance.

An offshore supply vessel was carrying out ‘bunkering’ operations – using bulk hoses which are lowered from the platform to allow the transfer of diesel – when the leak was spotted on one of the flexible pipes.

The chief officer of the supply vessel noticed a “discolouration” in the sea water indicating a leak.

The Crown narrative lodged in court yesterday stated: “He saw a plume emanating from the diesel bunkering hose which was mushroom shaped and approximately 15-20 metres in length from the hose.

“He immediately instructed his crew to stop the diesel pump and contacted the Brent Bravo to advise them of the leak.

“The deck crew began pulling the diesel hose back to the installation and at that time diesel could be seen escaping from the hose.”

The court heard that pumping activities were immediately stopped and the relevant authorities informed.

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) investigators found two damaged sections of hose, which had not be fully inspected before starting operations due to the way the bunkering station was set-up.

Senior management from the Royal Dutch Shell subsidiary appeared in the public benches at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where the company pleaded guilty to an unlicensed release of fuel.

Sheriff Kenneth Stewart fined the company £6,650, reduced from the maximum possible due to the early stage of the guilty plea.

A Shell UK spokeswoman said: "We regret that the release occurred - no spill is acceptable.

"We have since carried out a thorough investigation into the incident and have shared the lessons learned across the business."

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