Oil rig removal operation

Hugh Shaw, the UK government‘s salvage advisor, has given approval to commence the operation.

Weather scuppered two earlier bids to take the damaged platform away from Lewis.

The plan is to tow the damaged platform over the submerged deck of a heavy lift ship. The vessel then rises out of the water with the rig as dry cargo.

Wide-decked vessel, the Hawk, is waiting in Broad Bay in Lewis where the rig was taken after being salvaged off the other side of the islander after grounding in a storm two months ago.

The 17,6000 structure is to be transported to Malta for stripping down before its final destination to a breakers yard in Turkey.

Weather forecasts are favourable for Thursday and Friday when stiff southerly breezes will ease.

Wind speeds are set to dip below the 15 knots safely limit over the next two days.

The 20 hour process to unhook the drilling rig from its eight large seabed anchors is starting today.

A new attempt remove the stricken Transocean Winner is underway.

Weather and sea forecasts will be double checked after the first four anchors are slipped before continuing with the remainder.

Lines from four small tugs will hold the rig secure and tow it over a mile to deeper water at the mouth of Broad Bay before gently floating it over the 55-metre wide deck of the Hawk which will be ballasted 10 metres below the surface.

Then the Hawk will slowly rise out of the water with the rig onboard.

Low winds and swell are required to the critical float-on and lift part of the operation.

Last weekend an attempt was abandoned after a two metre swell failed to dissipate in time.

Hugh Shaw said: “We are prepared for any eventuality. If we have to it will be simply put her back on the anchors again and wait for the next opportunity.”

Fresh attempt to remove oil rig gets underway

5 October 2016

A loading attempt at the weekend was cancelled due to sea swell