Tristan : Tristan: An Update on the Stranded Oil Rig
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 03.08.2006 (Article Archived on 17.08.2006)
The Tug Zouros Hellas departed Tristan on Saturday the 29th July without being able to removed the Rig from her stranded position at 37 08.662 S 12 14.635 W in Trypot Bay.
The tug has been around Tristan since June and has made several attempts to pull her off during good weather, however the tug now having enough towing power was unable to budge her.
Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times) The Salvage Team having one last look at the rig before their departure.
Rig “A Turtle” ex PXXI aground off Tristan da Cunha remains Stranded.
The Tug Zouros Hellas departed Tristan on Saturday the 29th July without being able to removed the Rig from her stranded position at 37 08.662 S 12 14.635 W in Trypot Bay.
The tug has been around Tristan since June and has made several attempts to pull her off during good weather, however the tug now having enough towing power was unable to budge her.
The island has been inform by the salvage team that there are no pollutants in the pontoon tanks, and the deck area where you can find plastics, oil, batteries, chemicals etc, is 15 meters above sea level, although this is little consolation that it is safe from the spillage of pollutants given that the rig is almost 40 years old and badly corroded in many parts.
The rig has been suitably ballasted to sufficiently stabilize her on the seabed, which should ensure that she remains in her present position until such time as a decision is made to remove her when the weather improves later in the year.
This is not good news for the islanders as all the wildlife, which has been away from their breeding grounds i.e. Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Rock Hopper penguins etc will start to return later this month, and as it happens one of the penguin rookeries are located directly on the beach inside of the rig approximately 400 - 500m.
Fingers cross we will not experience any more bad storms this winter, and the tugs will return as soon as possible to remove the rig, or failure to do that, will return to dispose of the pollutants in the proper manner, if the rig is to be scuttle.
Sarah Glass
02/08/06
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