London: Work was expected to start Tuesday to salvage an oil rig which broke away from its tug in bad weather and ran aground off a remote Scottish island.
The 17,000 tonne Transocean Winner, carrying 280 tonnes of diesel but no-one on board, came to rest off the coast of the rugged and beautiful Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland early on Monday.
While an anti-pollution team is monitoring the rig -- which the BBC reported was being towed from Norway to Malta and then on to a scrap yard in Turkey -- the coastguard does not believe there is a high risk of damage.
An initial search "will be checking a number of things including fuel tanks," said Hugh Shaw, an official helping to oversee the operation.
"Weather permitting, it's then intended to put a second larger group of salvors on tomorrow to carry out a more detailed inspection."
Sightseers are being warned to stay away from the rig.
"We understand that this incident is of interest to people living in the area, but we're really asking them to stay away to ensure easy access for emergency services and salvors," said UK Coastguard commander Mark Rodaway.
"Also, the last thing we want is for people to be injured or worse trying to get a closer look on remote cliff paths."
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, an official body which investigates accidents in British waters, has launched a probe into what happened.
AFP
