Update: Transocean Winner, drilling rig (August 18th)
Salvors are planning to attach a second
towline today to the grounded drilling rig, Transocean Winner off the Isle of
Lewis.
Preparations continue for the refloat
and – weather permitting – it’s hoped that the remaining diesel oil onboard
will be transferred later today.
Transfer of equipment to the rig
continues by helicopter as part of the ongoing operation.
This includes compressors which will be
used to provide buoyancy for the refloat.
Smit Salvage continue assessments and
stability analyis to make sure it has sufficient buoyancy.
The 300m exclusion
zone covering the sea and the exclusion zone covering the air (temporary)
remains in place – any aircraft pilot or drone operator not involved in the
operation that breaches that zone will be prosecuted.
Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for
Maritime Salvage & Intervention said: ‘We appreciate that there remains huge interest in the rig but we’ve
put the exclusion zone in place for safety of the salvage teams and the public
too.’
This evening the
SOSREP will be attending a specially organised meeting to talk about the plans
for the refloat.
He will be giving a
presentation and answering questions along with representatives from Transocean
and the Western Isles Emergency Planning Coordinating Group at Carloway
Community Centre at 8pm tonight. (18th)
An exercise to test out procedures in the event of any diesel oil
being spilled will be carried out tomorrow (Friday 19th) starting at
around 9am.
It’s a proactive test to look at how quickly equipment could be
deployed from Carloway to various locations. This exercise is weather and
operationally dependent.
Picture: Maritime & Coastguard Agency |