The ships, two cargo barges and a tugboat, were anchored but the gale ruptured their moorings. There were neither casualties nor oil spills into the sea, officials said.

The vessels are part of the Sakhalin II international oil and natural gas project.

Sakhalin II is the second phase in a project that began in 1996 and saw the first oil produced three years later. It involves the construction of offshore platforms and pipelines to a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant and export terminals on the island.

The project has been sharply criticised by environmentalists for potential damage to rare species on the island as well as local communities.

The biggest concern is that construction will endanger the world's 100 remaining grey whales which use the north of the island as a feeding ground.

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