Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A 17,000-tonne oil rig with 280 tonnes of diesel on board has run aground after being blown ashore on the Western Isles.

Drilling rig Transocean Winner became detached from the tug boat during severe weather conditions off the Isle of the Lewis overnight.

High winds caused the rig to be blown ashore, running aground in Dalmore near the village of Carloway.

There were no personnel on board the rig and no risk to life.

(Image: Kenny Kelly)

People have been warned not to visit the beach where the rig ran aground.

The drilling rig is being monitored by a counter-pollution team after grounding on the western side of the Isle of Lewis.

Dalmore beach is a popular visitor area but coastguard teams and Police Scotland are now enforcing restricted access to the site to ensure specialist equipment can reach the scene.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the incident but the coastguard said the pollution risk is believed to be low.

Dalmore resident Andrew MacLeod, who took the footage, spotted the rig from the window of his house when he woke up this morning.

He said: "I live literally 30 seconds down the road from where the rig ended up.

"I didn't hear anything when it happened, it was actually someone in my house who spotted it around 6.30am. Police arrived, followed by the coastguard, about half an hour later.

He added: "The road to the beach has been blocked off and there's a coastal walk that connects Dalmore beach to other beaches which has also been closed.

"Police and coastguard are still outside and the rig hasn't moved."

(Image: Murdo Macdonald)

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Overnight on Sunday, Stornoway Coastguard was in communication with the tug Alp Forward which encountered severe weather west of the Isle Of Lewis, Scotland during a towing operation.

"At 4.20am on Monday, the master of Alp Forward reported that the tow line had parted and due to the severe weather conditions was unable to reconnect the tow line and the rig is at risk of grounding on the west side of the Isle Of Lewis near Carloway. The tug Alp Forward remains on scene to visually monitor the rig.

Dalmore locator map View fullscreen

They later added: "Following the grounding of the semi-submersible drilling rig Transocean Winner on the Isle of Lewis, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention Hugh Shaw is now in discussions with the owners Transocean and the salvors.

(Image: Ryan MacLeod)

"The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s counter pollution branch and the SOSREP have both been monitoring the situation since yesterday evening and the local authority, police and Marine Scotland have all been kept informed.

(Image: Ryan Macleod)

"There is 280mt of diesel on board and this situation is being monitored.

"The drilling rig has now grounded on the west side of the Isle of Lewis near Carloway. SMIT Salvage has been mobilised to deal with the incident.

"Police Scotland and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams are also on scene."

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

A spokesperson for Deep Water, the off-shore company responsible for the drilling rig, said: "During severe weather, the Transocean Winner lost its tow and subsequently grounded off the Western Isles of Scotland.

"Transocean is working closely with authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible."