Transocean Winner, a drilling rig that recently went aground in Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK, has yet to be shipped away to Turkey.
Namely, Offshore Energy Today on Friday reported that the rig was getting ready to be loaded aboard the Hawk semi-submersible heavy lift vessel, however, this has not happened as of yet.
According to the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), weather conditions worsened on Friday delaying the rig loading operation in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis.
“Sea conditions on Friday were above the agreed safe limits and therefore prevented the operation to load the Transocean Winner onto the Hawk in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis,” the MCA said on Friday.
According to the latest info by the MCA, date October 1, the Hawk remained on scene on Saturday “but the latest weather forecasts are for the deterioration in wind and sea conditions from Sunday onwards and the Transocean Winner will be put back onto her eight anchors temporarily.”
Hugh Shaw , Secretary of State’s Representative Maritime Salvage and Intervention with Transocean and Smit Salvage continue to look at options, including alternative locations offering shelter from prevailing conditions, dependent on appropriate weather and sea conditions for a safe operation.
The MCA earlier said that the Hawk could be stood down and the Transocean Winner put back onto its eight anchors if the weather didn’t improve.
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