The stricken Transocean Winner oil rig is floating in Broad Bay waiting for the swell to die down after its removal operation was suspended today.
The rig is secured to four small tugs overnight into Saturday until a decision is made about proceeding with loading.
Unless the swell abates, the present plan will be aborted and the platform hooked up to eight seabed anchors again ahead of rising northerly winds on Sunday.
Plans to transport the badly damaged Transocean Winner platform to a scrap yard in Turkey risks being postponed for weeks as bad weather is set to affect the Western Isles.
The 17,600 tonne rig crashed on the west coast of Lewis eight weeks ago.
After being salvaged off rocks, the platform was towed to a temporary anchorage in Broad Bay on the other side of the island.
The 33-
Some 27 bottom tanks were gashed and flooded with seawater during the collision deeming it too hazardous to continue her tow to a scrap yard in Turkey.
The plan was to load her as deck cargo on wide decked vessel, the Hawk.
The Norwegian-
The rig has been moved around two miles away from her anchorage, closer to the Hawk, ready for the final positing and loading.
Unexpectedly, an swell disrupted a period of ideal weather conditions and made it unsafe to continue.
Close-
Facing the prospect of both the rig and his ship bouncing up and down during the crucial loading operation, her captain suspended the exercise.
Hugh Shaw, the UK government‘s salvage advisor, said a decision will be made on Saturday as it takes around 20 hours to safely secure her at the anchorage.
With autumn gales now set to blast the islands, Mr Shaw said if the removal did not
go-
He highlighted it could be be “difficult” to find another suitable weather window at this time of year but “we just have to stay prepared at the moment as that’s the only option we have just now.”
Transocean, the American-
Sea conditions unsuitable for oil rig recovery
30 September 2016