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| Owners of stranded oil rig to meet with Isle of Lewis residents | |
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| The owners of a 17,000-tonne oil rig that has been stranded on the coast of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland for more than a week are to meet members of the local community for the first time. | The owners of a 17,000-tonne oil rig that has been stranded on the coast of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland for more than a week are to meet members of the local community for the first time. |
| The semi-submersible rig, Transocean Winner, ran aground close to Dalmore beach near Carloway on 8 August. It was being towed from Norway to Malta when its towline snapped in heavy seas. | The semi-submersible rig, Transocean Winner, ran aground close to Dalmore beach near Carloway on 8 August. It was being towed from Norway to Malta when its towline snapped in heavy seas. |
| Representatives from its owners, Transocean, alongside the salvage team, will take questions from islanders at a public meeting on Thursday night following criticism that they failed to attend a similar event attended by 80 people in Carloway on Monday. | Representatives from its owners, Transocean, alongside the salvage team, will take questions from islanders at a public meeting on Thursday night following criticism that they failed to attend a similar event attended by 80 people in Carloway on Monday. |
| But the company will not be able discuss why the rig was being towed near the islands in such poor weather. It is blocked from doing so while a separate inquiry by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch considers the cause of the incident. | But the company will not be able discuss why the rig was being towed near the islands in such poor weather. It is blocked from doing so while a separate inquiry by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch considers the cause of the incident. |
| The Western Isles Fishermen’s Association announced it intended to seek compensation for four boats that regularly fish in the area surrounding the rig. They have been affected by the setting up of a 300-metre exclusion zone covering sea and air, to prevent onlookers hampering the salvage teams and to discourage the use of drones. | The Western Isles Fishermen’s Association announced it intended to seek compensation for four boats that regularly fish in the area surrounding the rig. They have been affected by the setting up of a 300-metre exclusion zone covering sea and air, to prevent onlookers hampering the salvage teams and to discourage the use of drones. |
| The platform was carrying 280 tonnes of diesel. Experts believe two of the four storage tanks were damaged when it hit rocks near Carloway, with a potential loss of 53 tonnes of fuel. But there has been no sign so far of an oil slick nor any reports of pollution. | The platform was carrying 280 tonnes of diesel. Experts believe two of the four storage tanks were damaged when it hit rocks near Carloway, with a potential loss of 53 tonnes of fuel. But there has been no sign so far of an oil slick nor any reports of pollution. |
| Smit Salvage confirmed on Monday that the remaining two diesel oil tanks in the hull were intact and plans were in hand to transfer their contents – 137 tonnes – using onboard pumping systems to other tanks above the water line. | Smit Salvage confirmed on Monday that the remaining two diesel oil tanks in the hull were intact and plans were in hand to transfer their contents – 137 tonnes – using onboard pumping systems to other tanks above the water line. |
| A team of 15 salvage experts have boarded the drilling rig and will continue their damage assessment and preparations for the eventual refloat, which they believe could take many weeks. A helicopter based in Stornoway to support the operation has completed three trips, transferring additional salvage equipment and supplies to the team. | A team of 15 salvage experts have boarded the drilling rig and will continue their damage assessment and preparations for the eventual refloat, which they believe could take many weeks. A helicopter based in Stornoway to support the operation has completed three trips, transferring additional salvage equipment and supplies to the team. |
| Hugh Shaw, the UK government’s representative for maritime salvage and intervention, said: “Work is ongoing and we are making steady progress, this is due to the response from all involved. We fully appreciate the support that we have been getting from the local community and its leaders, as well as all those who live and work on the island.” | Hugh Shaw, the UK government’s representative for maritime salvage and intervention, said: “Work is ongoing and we are making steady progress, this is due to the response from all involved. We fully appreciate the support that we have been getting from the local community and its leaders, as well as all those who live and work on the island.” |
| Meanwhile, SNP politicians from the Highlands and Islands have written to the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, calling for the reintroduction of a second emergency towing vessel (ETV) in Scotland. | Meanwhile, SNP politicians from the Highlands and Islands have written to the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, calling for the reintroduction of a second emergency towing vessel (ETV) in Scotland. |
| Funding for a Western Isles ETV was scrapped by the UK government in 2010, and the last remaining Scottish tug is based in Orkney, about 150 miles from Lewis. | Funding for a Western Isles ETV was scrapped by the UK government in 2010, and the last remaining Scottish tug is based in Orkney, about 150 miles from Lewis. |