AUGUST 23, 2016 — The U.Okay. Maritime & Coastguard Agency experiences that the drilling rig Transocean Winner that ran aground in dangerous climate on the Isle of Lewis almost two weeks in the past has been efficiently refloated and stabilized and is now below tow to safer waters.
The rig was refloated from Dalmore Bay at 10.00 pm MondayAugust 22 and at the moment was below tow by assist vessels at about 1-1.5 knots per hour to Broad Bay, some 40 miles away.
Earlier this morning, the flew MCGA its Counter Pollution verification plane over Dalmore Bay to look at the water for any signal of discharge, sheen or air pollution from the rig. There was no air pollution reported within the Dalmore Bay space.
The verification plane continued to comply with the trail of the rig and has detected a slight sheen which is related to the continuing pressurization of tanks to take care of the rig’s stability.
Briggs Environmental is accompanying the tow and is helping by
breaking apart the sunshine sheen. Additional counter air pollution tools is on board the assist vessels at quick readiness ought to it’s required.
A Temporary Exclusion Zone stays in place at Dalmore Bay till the seabed has been totally checked for any particles or environmental affect.
A Temporary Exclusion Zone of 1,000 meters has additionally been established in Broad Bay.
Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for Maritime Salvage & Intervention mentioned: “‘We are benefiting from the beneficial climate situations following this large step ahead, and we’ll proceed to carefully monitor the rig while it’s below tow. By all accounts the rig seems to be in a steady situation, and is now attributable to attain Broad Bay tomorrow morning. Once every thing is asserted protected, I might be releasing the exclusion zone in Dalmore Bay.
“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Western Isles Council and community for their patience and their gracious hospitality during this challenging and disruptive period. This salvage operation has required the united cooperation from so many different organisations who have spared no effort to ensure that this rig reaches safer waters. I would like to specifically mention Salvage Master, Sylvia Tervoort and the Smit Salvage team, Transocean, Briggs Environmental, Western Isles Council and local community, Scottish Environment Group and other supporting government departments, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the emergency services – not to mention all the other supporting organizations, stakeholders and businesses who’ve assisted in this operation.”
