The wrecked Transocean Winner oil rig has finally arrived at its original destination
in Malta -
The heavy weight ship carrying the seriously damaged Transocean Winner anchored off the port of Marsaskala in the eastern Mediterranean today.
Though it is ultimately destined for the scrap yard in Turkey, the rig will remain
on the deck of the semi-
Patching up the 33-
Jagged rocks pierced into 30 of its tanks when it grounded in Dalmore, Lewis, after breaking its towline from a tug in a summer storm on 8 August.
After towed off the shore by tugs, the listing rig was towed to a sheltered anchorage in Broad Bay on the other side of the island.
Too badly holed to continue its tow south -
Weather disrupted the loading operation a number of times but eventually the ship was partially sank into the sea to allow the Winner to be floated over her deck. The vessel rose upward with the rig overlapping its wide deck.
Further delays set in when maritime authorities in Turkey sought assurances over the state of the platform before issuing a permit to allow the rig to be unloaded in their country.
Eventually, after weeks of dominating the headlines, the ship unceremoniously slunk off in the darkness on 14 October.
Rig owner, Transocean is donating £120,000 as a thank you gift to the community who helped during the salvage and recovery operation.
Around 40 local firms benefited from the recovery work while air and ferry transport operators saw a rise in passengers numbers as personnel travelled to and from the island.
► Oil rig rising out of the sea
► Video: Stricken Transocean Winner loaded aboard ship
Oil rig arrives in Malta
25 October 2016