UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) informed on Friday that sea fastening work to make the Transocean Winner rig ready for its journey on the back of the Hawk heavy lift vessel has been completed and signed off.
The rig had been stranded near a beach close to Carloway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland after the harsh weather blew it ashore in August. After that, the rig was towed to Broad Bay where it has been waiting on weather to be loaded aboard the semi-submersible heavy lift and transportation vessel, the Hawk.
After several delays, the rig was finally loaded onto the semi-submersible vessel a week ago.
According to the agency’s statement on Friday, the Hawk remains in Broad Bay while final approvals are obtained for it to take the rig to Malta and then onto Turkey. These approvals have to be from all parties involved under EU directives.
Once those are in place, Hugh Shaw , Secretary of State’s Representative Maritime and Salvage Intervention, will give his consent for the passage to begin.
However, the agency noted, future weather and sea conditions will continue to be reviewed and the Master of the Hawk will be allowed to delay departure if he feels they aren’t favorable for the journey to be made.