A giant oil and gas rig accommodation block that has been gradually taking shape at Lowestoft harbour has set sail for its new home in the North Sea this morning.

Workers at SLP Sembmarine at Hamilton Dock have been building the structure for the last 18 months and watched with pride today as it was manoeuvred out of the harbour by two powerful tugs at about 11am.

Members of the public also gathered at the edge of the dock to see the dominating landmark being guided gently through the 43m-wide harbour entrance on-board a 30m by 100m barge.

The 2,000-tonne living-quarters block was transferred to a third tug at sea and is now on its way to Nexen Petroleum's Golden Eagle Area Development project, 130 miles offshore of Aberdeen.

The six-storey Golden Eagle living accommodation block has room for 140 rig workers and comes complete with twin bed cabins with en-suite bathrooms, dining room, recreation, gymnasium, medical, office facilities and a helicopter landing deck.

It was transferred and welded on to the giant barge on May 7.

Visit the website later for a photo gallery of the module's launch.