The UK Maritime and Coastguard agency on Tuesday afternoon said that the refloating of the grounded Transocean Winner was a success and that the rig was under tow to safer waters.

As previously reported the semi-submersible drilling rig had run aground in bad weather on the Isle of Lewis earlier in August. It was floated from Dalmore Bay at 10pm Monday, and as of Tuesday night, it was under tow by its support vessels at about 1-1.5 knots per hour to Broad Bay, some 40 miles away.

Earlier on Tuesday the Maritime & Coastguard Agency flew its Counter Pollution verification aircraft over Dalmore Bay to examine the water for any sign of discharge, sheen or pollution from the rig. There was no pollution reported in the Dalmore Bay area, the MCA said.

Slight sheen

The verification aircraft continued to follow the path of the rig and has detected “a slight sheen” which is associated with the ongoing pressurization of tanks to maintain the rig’s stability. Briggs Environmental is accompanying the tow and is assisting by breaking up the light sheen, the MCA said on Tuesday afternoon. Additional counter pollution equipment is on board the vessels at immediate readiness should it be required.

The Temporary Exclusion Zone remains in place at Dalmore Bay until the seabed has been thoroughly checked for any debris or environmental impact.

A Temporary Exclusion Zone of 1,000 meters has also been established in Broad Bay.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for Maritime Salvage & Intervention said: “‘We are taking advantage of the favorable weather conditions following this big step forward, and we will continue to closely monitor the rig whilst it is under tow. By all accounts, the rig appears to be in a stable condition and is now due to reach Broad Bay tomorrow morning (Wednesday). Once everything is declared safe, I will be looking at 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 organizations 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 organisations, stakeholders and businesses who’ve assisted in this operation.”

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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