The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fifers say noisy rig is keeping them awake
Burntisland: Loud humming noise coming from rig is once again disturbing residents’ sleeping patterns
Burntisland residents say a noisy oil rig silenced last year is once again keeping them awake at night.
The Paragon Offshore semisubmersible, two miles off the coast of the Fife town, is emitting a loud hum that can be heard inside homes near the coast, claim locals.
Last year, the generator on the Paragon MSS1 rig was muffled following similar complaints.
One resident had described the sound as like having tinnitus.
Artist Leo du Feu, who lives in Burntisland, said the noise was back again.
He said: “This rig must not be allowed to return and we must not have to suffer loud rigs in future.
“We need to be able to sleep in our own bedrooms and homes in order to get on with work and life each day.”
Mr du Feu said his partner, Jennifer, was first to be wakened by the noise on April 28, while he was away from home.
He said they were both wakened at around 11pm the following night.
“The hum was at a level which seems as loud as when it first appeared in 2016 and it is causing an absolute, definite disturbance to us,” said Mr du Feu.
“It took me several hours to get back to sleep and Jennifer didn’t manage more than to on-and-off doze until 5am.
“At 5.30am I woke again and heard that the hum was still just as loud.
“I got up and went all around the house. The noise was obvious in every room except our kitchen downstairs, exactly as was the case when the rig arrived last year.”
Mr du Feu said his neighbours could also hear the noise.
He added: “Hopefully this is the rig firing up before leaving us for good. It’s totally unfair that we had to suffer this back in 2016 and it’s totally unfair that we’re suffering it again now.”
In November last year, baffles were fitted around the rig’s generator after complaints were received from residents along the coast from west Burntisland to Pettycur Bay.
Paragon said it was in contact with Fife Council over the matter.
The hum was at a level which seems as loud as when it first appeared in 2016 and it is causing an absolute, definite disturbance to us. LEO DU FEU