Image Courtesy: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Following reports that the recently grounded oil rig Transocean Winner was leaking oil, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that there is no pollution detected in the area of the rig, adding that it continues to monitor the site.
Furthermore, the agency’s counter pollution surveillance aircraft yesterday flew over the grounding site on the west side of the Isle of Lewis near Carloway and surrounding area to make careful observations for pollution around the rig and the nearby coast and sea and “no sheen or sign of pollution has been found.”
Initial damage assessment inspections earlier revealed that two of the four diesel fuel tanks on the rig appear to have been breached.
It is estimated that the maximum amount of diesel which could have been lost from those tanks is 53 tonnes.
A damage assessment team from Smit Salvage and the owner of the rig Transocean will continue inspections on board the rig as it remains in the original position.
The rig was reported to be carrying 280 metric tonnes of diesel oil on board in total, split between a number of separate tanks.
Additional salvors and technical experts from Transocean and also equipment continues to arrive to the incident area to support the operation.
A temporary exclusion zone of 300 metres to keep boats away remains in force, the agency added.
The 1983-built Transocean Winner ran into trouble on Sunday night, which was being towed by tug Alp Forward, when it encountered severe weather west of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
At the time of the incident there were no personnel on board the rig.