Grounded rig fuel leak ‘could be up to 13,000 gallons’
ALMOST 13,000 gallons of diesel is feared to have escaped from the tanks of an oil rig that ran aground on the Western Isles.
Transocean Winner has not moved since it broke free from a towing vessel and landed on a beach in Lewis at around 7.30am on Monday.
The semi-submersible rig was travelling from Norway to Malta when it hit severe weather conditions off the western side of the island.
It was holding 280 tonnes of fuel – more than 65,000 gallons – in four separate tanks when it ran aground on Dalmore Beach. Initial investigation discovered two of those tanks have been breached.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman said: ‘It is estimated that the maximum amount of diesel which could have been lost from those tanks is 53 tonnes and salvors will determine the quantity of diesel remaining in those tanks during the course of the salvage operation.’
He continued: ‘As well as continual observations on scene, the MCA counter pollution surveillance aircraft yesterday flew over the location 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.’
Hugh Shaw, the UK Government’s representative for maritime and salvage, said most of the escaped diesel would have evaporated.
He said: ‘Any oil lost to the environment is obviously a concern for us but this is extremely low-risk.
‘The oil was probably lost from these tanks when the installation came in and grounded itself. There is no oil at the moment on the sea surface. The fact that the tanks have been breached, that oil has long gone now, most of it will have evaporated on the Monday morning.’
But last night concerns about the environmental impact persisted.
A nearby fish farm is keeping a close eye on the situation in an effort to ensure no stock is compromised.
A spokesman for the Scottish Salmon Company, which owns the farm, said strict monitoring procedures and precautionary measures are in place at one farm site which is near the rig. He said: ‘The severe weather conditions were forecast and our own vessels operating in the area were suspended during the storm.
‘We will be requesting a full independent investigation. This incident has highlighted that there are insufficient management procedures and lack of effective emergency measures in place in this region.’
The next few days will be crucial, according to Dr Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland.
‘The weather is going to be really bad,’ he said. ‘If we are lucky then after the next three or four days they will fix any leaks and that will be the end of the major risk.
‘If we are unlucky the storms over the next three or four days will cause more oil to spill.’
A ‘low level’ of pollution was detected by tests on Monday, Western Isles Council said, but no obvious signs of a spill remain at the site.
The Western Isles Emergency Planning Co-ordinating Group warned that the huge structure looks set to remain towering over the popular beauty spot for ‘some time’ as poor weather conditions continue to hamper the salvage operation.
Scotland’s Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said serious questions need to be asked as to why the rig was being towed during severe weather.
She said: ‘Although the diesel is expected to rapidly disperse in the current sea conditions, the Environment Group has put in place measures to swiftly identify any potential environmental impact on this precious and fragile marine habitat.
‘This whole incident raises serious questions about why this rig was being towed through Scottish waters when such stormy conditions were forecast.’
‘Severe weather was forecast’