A bid to remove the stricken Transocean Winner oil rig this weekend has been cancelled.
Weather conditions are too hazardous to attempt to load the seriously damaged platform onto the deck of a ship.
Owner Transocean, said the rig is in a safe anchorage at the moment and they will not take any chances with the removal operation.
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.
Transocean has chartered a semi-
The original timings to transfer the stricken platform onto the Hawk on Sunday were thrown into disarray due to a worsening forecast.
The late appearance of a short lull on Saturday afternoon initially seemed promising but has now been ruled out after the latest forecast indicated it would not allow sufficient time.
The first stages of the loading were due to kick-
But plans to unhook the rig’s eight anchors and safely secure the platform to workhorse tugs were called off after salvors examined a 3am forecast.
Colin Mulvana, the UK Government's deputy salvage advisor, stressed the weather is “totally unsuitable.”
Mr Mulvana said: “It is just a case of waiting again for another weather window. That is all we can do.
“We are monitoring forecasts at least four times a day looking for reasonable weather and taking expert advice from the Met Office.”
Though the rig’s location in Broad Bay is sheltered from the brunt of the strong southerly winds, the critical point of the complex transfer operation requires almost calm conditions.
Stricken rig removal cancelled this weekend
23 September 2016