Multiple people are reported to be injured after a huge ship tipped at a "45-degree angle" at a dock in Edinburgh, with emergency crews racing to the scene.
A rescue operation is currently underway at Imperial Dock in Leith after the large ship appeared to lurch towards its right-hand side, as per Sky News.
Emergency services were called to attend at around 8:35 AM local time after the incident was first reported with the ship said to be the 76 meter (250 ft) RV Petrel, a research vessel owned by the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, per BBC News.
It is claimed that around 50 people were on board when the ship began to tip to one side with the Scottish Ambulance Service sending five ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams, and other resources to the scene.
Leith councilor Adam McVey took to Twitter where he updated residents that the ship became dislodged due to "high winds" while instructing civilians to stay away from the area.
His tweet read: "Emergency services are responding to a major incident at Leith docks- a ship has been dislodged from its holding in strong winds. Terrifying for those on board, my thoughts are with those who’ve been injured & hope everyone recovers quickly. Please avoid [the] area."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said, via Sky News: "Officers and emergency service colleagues are responding to an incident at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, whereby a ship on the dry dock has become dislodged from its holding.
"Police were called to attend at around 8:35 AM on Wednesday and officers remain at the scene. The public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency service access."
A spokesperson for the coastguard added: "HM Coastguard is currently assisting Police Scotland in responding to a major incident at Imperial Dry Dock in Edinburgh. At around 9:30 AM, Coastguard rescue teams from Fisherrow, South Queensferry, and Kinghorn were sent to the scene.
"This is a multi-agency response, with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Scottish Fire and Rescue also in attendance."
Images of the vessel have appeared on social media and show the severity of the situation, with it currently being understood that there are multiple injuries but the extent of which is currently unknown.
It is also not currently known what caused the incident to occur. The ship itself had previously been used for deep water searches to find shipwrecks and war graves at sea before being placed into long-term moorage in 2020 due to "operation challenges" as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, said it had no comment.
