Tugboats Refloat Oil Rig that Grounded Off Isle of Lewis

23rd August 2016

Tugs from Smit Salvage preparing for the re-floating of the oil rig off the Isle of Lewis

#OilRig - Tugboats from Smit Salvage have tugged the 17,000-tonne Transocean Winner free during high water levels and will be taken Broad Bay on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland until it can be transported to a repair facility.

The Daily Record reports that tugboats have helped to re-float an oil rig that was blown onto a remote Scottish beach in a storm.

The Transocean Winner ran aground on the Isle of Lewis off Scotland’s west coast on August 8, after breaking its tow lines in high winds during transportation from Norway to Malta.

The Smit Salvage teams tugged the boat free during high water levels on Monday night.

The 17,000-tonne semi-submersible rig will be towed to Broad Bay on Lewis and will remain there until it is in a stable and fit condition to be towed or transported to a suitable repair facility.

For much more on the efforts to refloat the oil platform, click here

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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