British frigate deployed to patrol North Sea's oil rigs

Britain's Ministry of Defence said it has sent a Royal Navy warship to the North Sea to "reassure partners" following last week's suspected sabotage attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

British media reported that the ship was likely the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset, and said it had been sent to protect oil rigs in the area of concern where there are pipes that deliver oil and gas to Britain and Scandinavia.

Earlier this week, a government statement confirmed that a frigate was in the North Sea, "working with the Norwegian Navy to reassure those working near the gas pipelines".

In a news release, the United Kingdom's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who had previously unveiled plans for specialist vessels to patrol areas where there is critical infrastructure, said: "In this period of heightened concern for all like-minded partner nations, it is right that we act with speed, agility and collective resolve to actively demonstrate our shared commitment to mutual security."

The Nord Stream pipelines, built to transport gas from Russia to Germany, ruptured in three places last week after apparent explosions under the Baltic Sea.

The incidents have added new tension to the energy crisis in Europe, which until recently relied heavily on Russian fuel, sending prices soaring.

European Union states are racing to find alternative supplies, while the UK now faces a "significant risk" of gas shortages this winter, its regulator said.

On Monday, Sweden sent a diving vessel to the site of the Nord Stream pipeline leaks to probe the incidents, Reuters reported, adding that Sweden's prosecution authority had designated the area as a crime scene.

European countries suspect the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines could only have been caused by an attack, but have declined to say who could be behind it.

The BBC reported that wider industry is now cooperating "across boundaries, and with security and intelligence agencies, to protect assets against sabotage".

Analysis from the broadcaster noted that "unwelcome and unexplained" drones have been sighted around Norwegian offshore oil and gas installations, adding that it was not clear if these drones were "controlled from sea or land". It noted that Norway's government had responded to this activity with an announcement that it is stepping up security around its offshore energy assets.

A source told Reuters that Italy has also started strengthening security and surveillance around its critical infrastructure that could be vulnerable to attack.