Transocean salvage team

To prevent a further oil spill - caused when two tanks ruptured - the team will look at the diesel oil tanks and plan to pump remaining fuel up top so that it will be well above the waterline before any operation to refloat the rig commences.

Salvors are now onboard the grounded drilling rig, Transocean Winner, after accessing the platform by boat.

From boats bouncing in the swell they jumped onto the wave-washed pontoon at the bottom of the structure before clambering up the tall legs.

The 33-year-old drilling platform was on tow from Norway to Malta for scrapping when it grounded on Dalmore beach last Monday.

Four personnel from Transocean and the same number from salvage contractors, Smit, are now carrying out a full assessment of the rig.

They intend to make it habitable so that they can remain on it overnight.

Food, provisions and sleeping bags were also transferred onto the rig by sea.

There’s also work being done to help provide a supply line for the team so they can get equipment and supplies on board.

Rope access technicians have created a safe alternative access after the prevailing weather conditions made it too difficult to air lift the team to the installation.

A pulley system will be established on the headland to transfer food, water, supplies as well as sleeping bags and torches, across from the clifftop to the platform.

There’s also work going on in close proximity to the Transocean Winner to carry out a sonar survey of the seabed, looking to identify the safest route to move it when the time comes.An additional aircraft is arriving today (Sun) to help with airlifts.

Hugh Shaw, who is the Secretary of State’s representative for maritime salvage and intervention, said: "Once the assessment is under way, we’ll have a much better idea of what we are dealing with, which will mean a more detailed salvage plan can be drawn up and put into place.

"We’ve made a commitment to keeping people informed locally and we intend to keep to that – once I’m happy that the plan is ready, we will be sharing it with community leaders and the community as a whole."

The emergency services advise people to keep away from the hazardous cliffs around the rig.

Salvage team finally board grounded oil rig

14 August 2016

An exclusion zone of 300 metres remains in place around the rig covering the sea and the air, which means no drones will be permitted in the area, providing a safe working area for the salvage team to work in.

The headland where the rig is grounded is expected to become a restricted area which may be fenced off.