If the rig is successfully refloated it will be towed to Broad Bay on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis for inspection and any short-term repairs.
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The Transocean Winner drilling rig was successfully refloated in Dalmore Bay at 10pm on Monday.
Hugh Shaw, the British Secretary of State’s representative for maritime salvation and intervention, said: “The tow has taken longer than anticipated”.
The MCA said no pollution has been reported or observed, and plans to send an aircraft over the rig and surrounds to confirm the area is free of contaminants.
“From there Transocean intend to carry out further work to assess its condition before deciding on their next move”.
The Temporary Exclusion Zone remains in place at Dalmore Bay, until the seabed has been thoroughly checked for any debris or environmental impact.
A drilling rig has run aground on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland after being hit…
A Temporary Exclusion Zone of 1,000 m has also been established in Broad Bay.
“I would like to offer my honest thanks to the Western Isles Council and community for their patience and their gracious hospitality during this challenging and disruptive period”.
By all accounts the rig appears to be in a stable condition, and is now due to reach Broad Bay tomorrow morning. The mission to refloat the stranded rig was successful, in part, because the salvage team took advantage of high water levels.
The towline between the rig – with 280 tonnes of diesel on board – and its tug was lost en route from Norway to Malta amid high winds and heavy seas in the early hours of Monday 8 August.
It spilled an estimated 53,000 litres of fuel into the sea when two of its four fuel tanks ruptured, although the majority of the diesel is thought to have evaporated without causing any significant threat to wildlife.
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A Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation has been launched into the loss of tow and the grounding.
