Video: Transocean Rig Goes Aground Off Scotland

Early Monday morning, the semisubmersible Transocean Winner went aground on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The rig was in transit, towed by the anchor handling tug Alp Forward, and the tug lost the tow in severe weather. The Alp Forward was unable to reestablish a connection and high winds blew the Winner aground. 

UK maritime authorities said in a statement that "following the grounding of the semi-submersible drilling rig Transocean Winner on the Isle of Lewis, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention Hugh Shaw is now in discussions with the owners Transocean and the salvors . . . There is 280mt of diesel on board and this situation is being monitored . . . SMIT Salvage has been mobilised to deal with the incident. Police Scotland and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams are also on scene."

No one was aboard at the time of the grounding and no spill has been reported. 

The 2007-built Alp Forward is a 218-tonne bollard pull anchor handler sailing under the Dutch flag. 

The 1983-built Transocean Winner has a 65-foot transit draft and a transit displacement of 20,000 tons. As of Transocean's latest fleet status report, the Winner was scheduled to come off contract with Marathon Oil last month.

The BBC reported that the rig was under tow from the North Sea to Malta at the time of the grounding. Valletta-based legal firm GANADO Advocates wrote in a recent blog post that Transocean is stacking rigs in Malta while determining which and how many to scrap at Turkish recycling yards. 

Images courtesy Mark Macleod / facebook