A STRICKEN oil rig which ran aground in severe gales has begun to leak fluid into the sea after two fuel tanks breached during extremely high tides.
The Transocean Winner, which ran aground off Lewis, is listing heavily to one side after surging up and down at high tide, heightening fears over a major oil spill affecting the area.
Experts were last night forced to suspend salvage operations as more high winds forecast will make it too dangerous to airlift people onto the stricken 17,000 tonne rig.
Read more: Salvage team going on board oil rig blown ashore on Isle of Lewis
Gale force winds are forecast and the initial salvage assessment phase has been and leave the rig even more vulnerable to the weather and heighten the risk of further leaks.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency yesterday revealed that two of the rig's four tanks holding 280 tonnes of diesel have been breached.
But weather conditions meant it was impossible to determine how much may already have escaped.
The MCA said it is "unclear at this time" how much oil from the tanks has been released to the environment.
The rig was being towed from Norway to Malta and blew ashore in severe weather conditions on the west coast of Lewis on Monday after becoming detached from its tug.
Severe weather prevented the line being reconnected.
Salvage teams were winched on board the rig by helicopter on Tuesday to assess the damage but have been unable to return due to bad weather in the area.
Read more: Public warned not to visit beach where stricken oil rig ran aground
The diesel was being stored in a number of tanks on the rig, two of which seem to have been damaged which has alarmed environmental groups.
have raised concerns but the coastguard maintains the pollution risk remains low.
An MCA spokesman said: "The rig remains in the original position and was reported to be carrying 280 metric tonnes of diesel oil on board in total split between a number of separate tanks.
"During the inspection the salvors discovered that two of the fuel tanks appear to have been breached, however it is unclear at this time how much oil from those tanks has been released to the environment.
"Weather conditions have made it impossible for the team to continue the assessment today.
"Additional salvors and technical experts from Transocean, and also equipment, continues to arrive to the incident area to support the operation.
Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:"I've been told by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that it may well be several weeks before the rig is re-floated.
"So clearly there is potential for a problem during that time particularly if there's another storm."
"Why was it where it was, why was it still under tow, and why was it in the most dangerous spot, i.e. outside the mainland... when there was a major storm forecast?
The tug Union Bear remains in the area along with the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel Herakles to support the operation.
Coastguard Rescue Teams and police officers are enforcing restricted access to the site to make sure that specialist equipment can easily get to the scene.
Mark Rodaway UK Coastguard Commander said:"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.
"Also the last thing we want is for people to be injured or worse trying to get a closer look on remote cliff paths."
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The news that some of the fuel tanks appear to have breached is obviously concerning, especially given the proximity of the grounded rig to the beach and the presence in the wider area of important marine habitats and species.
"Although the diesel is expected to rapidly disperse in the current sea conditions, the Environment Group, chaired by Marine Scotland, has put in place measures to swiftly identify any potential environmental impact on this precious and fragile marine habitat.
“This whole incident raises serious questions about why this rig was being towed through Scottish waters when such stormy conditions were forecast."
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