‘Transocean Winner’ fuel tanks breached

The fuel tanks of the grounded drilling rig ‘Transocean Winner’ have been breached, the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said.

The rig grounded in Scotland after breaking away from a towing tug which was transporting the rig from Norway to Malta.

SMIT Salvage and Transocean assessment teams found that two of the rig’s four fuel tanks were breached, and have released an unknown amount of fuel into the environment.

As of Wednesday, there was no evidence of oil in the water surrounding the rig or on the beach, Hugh Shaw, a government official, told the BBC.

Further attempts at inspection have been hindered by the weather, but an upcoming break should allow salvage teams to refloat the rig.