Time is running out for salvors attempting to load the stranded drilling rig Transocean Winner on to a heavy-lift ship, which is due to leave for another job on October 10, reports say.
Poor weather conditions have hampered the effort to float the 17,000-tonne rig on to the semi-submersible ship Hawk, which is owned and operated by Norway’s Offshore Heavy Transport.
The rig was due to be moved from its current location in a bay off Scotland’s Isle of Lewis to Malta, where it will be stripped of parts for recycling such as its generators. The rig will then be taken to Turkey, where it is to be scrapped.
The rig ran aground in August (pictured) when its towline snapped during stormy conditions, while under tow from Norway to Malta.