CREWS on board a barge working on a new gas field project off the Port of Hartlepool got a shock this week when a baby seal found its way on board.
The baby seal somehow made its way on to the Castoro 6 barge, which is out laying pipes in the North Sea as part of the Saipem and Tolmount gas field project.
The crew luckily spotted the seal – now called Tolly – and managed to rescue it by placing it into a padded skip for transfer onto the Skandi Foula – a vessel that was due into Hartlepool on Tuesday morning for cargo operations.
Saipem representatives contacted PD Ports to ask for assistance in discharging the seal safely at the Port of Hartlepool.
A marine specialist was also contacted for advice and met the vessel upon arrival at Hartlepool.
The seal was safely delivered to the SeaLife representative as soon as it was discharged from the vessel.
A spokesman from SeaLife said the seal looked tired but was ok. He said: "All going well, I hope the seal will be returned to the North Sea in around two weeks."
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