Operation to move oil rig is temporarily suspended
30 September 2016
A spokesperson for Hugh Shaw, the UK government‘s salvage advisor, said: "The Hawk and Transocean Winner remain at immediate readiness overnight and should the weather conditions improve, then the operation will resume as planned.
"The latest weather forecasts are predicting a further deterioration in wind and sea conditions from Sunday onwards, so unless the operation is resumed by noon tomorrow, then it is likely that the Hawk will be stood down and the Transocean Winner will be put back onto her eight anchors."
Hugh Shaw will then hold discussions with Transocean and Smit Salvage to look at possible other options for removing the rig.
The operation to load the Transocean Winner oil rig onto a heavy lift ship has been suspended temporarily due to a sea swell at the mouth of Broad Bay, Lewis.
Although there had been a weather window which would have meant it was possible,
the swell on Friday is above the agreed safe limits for this operation.