Oil rig removal delay

Weather and sea conditions remain too hazardous to remove the stricken Transocean Winner oil rig from Broad Bay.

A period of reasonable conditions is required to load the seriously damaged platform onto the deck of a ship.

However, the first stages of preparations for the operation have been undertaken.

Ballast water from tanks on the rig has been pumped out and floatation bags attached to the damaged side of the platform to help straighten it up.

The rig - which ran aground on the west side of Lewis nearly two months ago - is still secured to eight anchors.

The 17,600 tonne rig is too badly damaged to continue its tow to a scrapyard in Turkey.

Hitching a ride on a heavy lift ship is deemed the safest option by salvors. The semi-submersible vessel, the Hawk, has been chartered are is waiting in position in Broad Bay.

However, if there are any problems with stability, the rig will be ballasted down to the original draft.

A spokesperson for the Hugh Shaw, the UK Government's salvage advisor, said: "At the moment the operation to move the rig has to wait for a weather window within operational limits.

"Based on current forecasts this is unlikely to be for at least two days, but forecasts are being closely monitored."

She added: "If there are any problems with stability, the rig will be ballasted down to the original draft.

"The Hawk remains on standby and preparations continue for the loading phase to begin."

Exclusion zones remain in place both at Broad Bay and Dalmore Bay.

When the time comes to begin the loading operation, an additional exclusions zone will be established around the Hawk during the float-on operation.

Weather too hazardous to remove Transocean Winner oil rig

27 September 2016