Rig loading feat

The stricken Transocean Winner oil rig is set to be high and dry on the deck of a ship tonight, two months after crashing aground in the Western Isles.

The 33-year-old redundant structure was cautiously floated into position over a partially submerged heavy lift ship, the Hawk, during a lengthy operation today.

The operation stopped when the rig hit and damaged two tall guide poles on the deck but work later resumed.

Supply boat, MV Polar King, was used to provide some respite when the swell affected a crucial part of the positioning operation.

Fine tuning of the rig’s position over the ship was accomplished by securing heavy wires between the platform and the ship.

The heavy load ship, the Hawk, is rising out of the sea with the rig expected to clear of the water tonight.

Poor weather delayed previous loading attempts.

The heavy transport vessel was due to depart on Monday so the race was on to maximise a spell of low wind and favourable seas.

Some of the flotilla of support vessels were released from their duties early with the operation deemed successful in the afternoon.

As he supervised the loading from a boat in the middle of Broad Bay, Hugh Shaw, the UK government's salvage advisor, said: “I am absolutely we have got the rig onto the Hawk.

“I couldn’t have asked for it to come better today.

“It has been very much a team effort with everyone involved. With all the vessels it has been a massive operation.

“I think everyone who served will have the same feeling of joy.”

Mr Shaw added: “Over the next few days we have to secure the rig to the deck of the Hawk itself,” for its voyage to Malta to be stripped down before sent to the breakers yard in Turkey.

The Winner snapped her towline and was blown ashore with 280 tonnes of fuel onboard during severe weather on 8 August.

After being salvaged off rocks, the platform was towed to a temporary anchorage in Broad Bay on the other side of the island.

Around 27 bottom tanks were holed and flooded with seawater during the collision making it too hazardous to continue her tow to a scrap yard in Turkey.

It was only kept afloat by a constant stream of compressed air pumping into her compartments.

This morning, its eight seabed anchors were unhooked and four small tugs manoeuvred the rig a mile or so to where the Norwegian-flagged heavy loader's deck was submerged 10 metres under the surface.

Ahead of the exercise the rig’s draft was reduced to eight metres allowing a safe amount of room to play with.

Delight at rig loading feat

6 October 2016

Hugh Shaw, the UK's salvage advisor