MCA: No pollution found at grounded rig site

No pollution has been detected in the area of a rig which grounded on the Isle of Lewis, off Scotland, early Monday morning, says the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The MCA said, despite two of four fuel tanks on the Transocean Winner semisubmersible having been found to have been breached, no evidence of a leak at the grounding site had been found, including by a fly-over by a pollution surveillance aircraft yesterday.

It is estimated that the maximum amount of diesel which could have been lost from the tanks is 53-tonnes, says the MCA.

The MCA says it continues to monitor for pollution and salvor teams from Smit Salvage and Transocean will continue inspections on board the rig, which has remained in the same position, this week.

Additional salvors and technical experts from Transocean and equipment continue to arrive to the incident area to support the operation.

A temporary exclusion zone of 300m to keep boats away remains in force. The tug Union Bear remains in the vicinity along with the emergency towing vessel Herakles. 

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State's representative for maritime and salvage continues to monitor the operations and is maintaining contact with all the key stakeholders including Transocean, Smit Salvage, the Scottish Environment Group and Western Isles Council. 

The rig grounded, nearby Dalmore beach, early Monday morning.

Transocean's GVA 4000-design rig was being towed by the tug Alp Forward from Stavanger to Malta, at the time, but had hit high winds late Sunday night and then parted from the tug. It is understood that the rig was due to be taken to Turkey to be scrapped, according to BBC reports.

Read more

Salvage crews board grounded rig

Rig grounds off Isle of Lewis

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