Bid to refloat oil rig aground on Lewis set to take place
Final preparations are being made to refloat a 17,000-tonne oil rig which ran aground in rough seas in the Outer Hebrides.
Final preparations are being made to refloat a 17,000-tonne oil rig which ran aground in rough seas in the Outer Hebrides.
Officials are finalising proposals to free up and move the Transocean Winner drilling rig on Monday night.
It comes a fortnight after the semi-submersible structure was blown ashore in bad weather at Dalmore Bay, near Carloway on the Isle of Lewis, during a towing operation.
Salvage team Smit has agreed the latest towage plan - which is focused around high water on Monday night - with Hugh Shaw, the official tasked with overseeing the operation.
Mr Shaw, the Secretary of State's representative for maritime salvage and intervention, said: "We have commenced the final phase of this part of the operation.
"The two tugs who will be towing are already connected and standing by off Dalmore beach. The refloat is scheduled to take place later tonight.
"We're aware of how much interest there has been in this rig and completely understand that. We know that people will want to watch it.
"All we ask is that everyone follows the guidance that is being put out by the Western Isles emergency planning co-ordinating group (WIEPCG) so that they can watch it safely."
WIEPCG urged people to watch the events unfold "safely and within the limits that we're putting in place".
A spokesman said: "This is a complex operation and we would advise the public that the refloating of the rig may actually take place later in the evening, by which time it will be dark."
Police and the local authority will have a system in place to manage traffic in the area.
The spokesman went on: "We would urge those who are attending to make sure they wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
"Access to cliff tops will be strongly discouraged as today's weather conditions are making coastal paths particularly hazardous.
"People wanting to watch the refloat operation are being asked to make sure they follow the plans, advice and instructions being put in place so they can do it safely."
The towline between the rig and its tug was lost en route from Norway to Malta amid high winds and heavy seas in the early hours of Monday August 8.
The rig grounded with 280 tonnes of diesel on board and two of its four fuel tanks were damaged in the incident.
It resulted in the loss of up to 53,000 litres of fuel, most of which is thought to have evaporated.
The remaining 200 tonnes of hydrocarbons, mainly diesel oil with small amounts of base oil and brine, were transferred from the rig to the supply vessel Olympic Orion at the weekend.
A 300m exclusion zone around the rig will remain in place while the salvage work continues.
There will also be a one-kilometre exclusion zone around the Transocean Winner while it is being towed from Dalmore Bay to Broad Bay, on the east coast of Lewis.