Final preparations for moving the Transocean Winner rig onto the Hawk semi-submersible heavy lift and transportation vessel are continuing.
According to the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), good progress has been made on the operation in Broad Bay, and the recently grounded rig might be loaded aboard the Hawk soon. The Hawk will then leave the UK waters, and carry the rig to Turkey.
The anchors have now been disconnected and the rig is being held on four tugs about half a mile from the Hawk, the MCA said, adding that the Hawk has almost completed ballasting and is making final preparations to receive the rig.
The Hawk will be partially submerged so it can receive the rig. The rig will then be towed across to the Hawk, allowing the vessel to come up slowly under the Transocean Winner.
“Weather conditions are improving by the hour and if this continues then it is extremely likely that the rig will be floated over the Hawk later this morning or early this afternoon.”
As long as the weather holds, MCA said on Friday, the Transocean Winner drilling rig, will be loaded onto the Hawk and taken out of the water within the next 24 hours.
“The operation itself is, however, going to be lengthy,” MCA said.
To remind, the Transocean Winner rig ran aground on a beach in Scotland back in August. After two weeks of being grounded in Dalmore Bay, the rig was then moved to Broad Bay, where it is currently located waiting to be moved away as a ‘dry cargo.’
Offshore Energy Today Staff