Bad weather threatens to scupper the removal of the Transocean Winner oil rig from Lewis at the weekend.
Plans to transfer the stricken platform onto a ship on Sunday have been thrown into disarray by a change in the weather forecast, which is now predicting a rising wind.
And an oil spill exercise at the rig location scheduled for yesterday afternoon had to be cancelled due to a change in the wind direction.
Salvors are now waiting for a new forecast this morning before making a decision on whether to postpone the complex operation.
The 17,600 tonne rig is so badly damaged that it will be carried to a scrap yard in Turkey on a heavy lift ship.
Up to 53 tonnes of diesel spilled into the sea when the rig crashed onto rocks at Dalmore after breaking free from its tow during a storm on August 8.
The redundant drilling platform was salvaged and towed to sheltered waters in Broad Bay, where she remains secured by eight anchors.
An unknown amount of diesel remains in the platform’s tanks and could spill overboard during the crucial 12-hour loading schedule.
To minimise the pollution risk, Colin Mulvana, the UK Government’s deputy salvage advisor, has instructed that it must be undertaken in daylight and good weather.
Sunday previously looked good, but up-to-date forecasts show wind speeds are now expected to rise to near gale conditions this weekend.
Mr Mulvana said the new forecast for Broad Bay indicated a “narrow band” of good weather on Saturday, but a low pressure system could cause the winds to increase considerably.
He said: “There are critical points within the operation where it needs wind speeds of 15 knots.
“We cannot have any higher wind strength than that.”
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