A small group of salvage experts are planning to attempt to board a vast drilling rig which ran aground on the coast of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
They are due to be winched down by helicopter on to the sloping deck of the Transocean Winner, a 17,000-tonne semi-submersible rig, on Tuesday. The rig was blown close to cliffs during a severe gale early on Monday.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has set up a 300-metre wide exclusion zone around the beach at Dalmore near Carloway, for safety reasons and to prevent onlookers blocking access to the site for salvage teams and emergency services.
The rig, which was being towed from Norway to Malta, was unmanned but is carrying 280 tonnes of diesel, raising the threat of a leak into the surrounding seas and coastline. Footage from the scene shows the rig, which is close to 100 metres tall, swaying against rocks in the swell.
Hugh Shaw, the UK transport secretary’s representative for maritime salvage and intervention, who is overseeing the operation, said: “This initial recce will be checking a number of things including fuel tanks.
“Weather permitting, it’s then intended to put a second larger group of salvors on tomorrow to carry out a more detailed inspection.”
The Transocean Winner ran aground after a towing rope severed during a heavy storm at about 4am on Monday. The MCA sent its only emergency rescue tug in northern Scotland, the Orkney-based ETV Herakles, to the scene on Monday.
Mark Rodaway, an MCA official, said the exclusion zone was necessary for public safety, as well as the salvage operation.
“We understand that this incident is of interest to people living in the area but we’re asking them to stay away to ensure easy access for emergency services and salvage teams,” he said.
“Also the last thing we want is for people to be injured or worse trying to get a closer look on remote cliff paths.”
