Public Warned Away After Oil Rig Blown Ashore

Coastguard teams and police are restricting access to the beach to make sure specialist equipment can reach the scene.

People have been urged to steer clear of a beach on the Outer Hebrides as salvage teams try to secure an oil rig carrying 280 tonnes of diesel that ran aground after being blown ashore.

The drilling rig Transocean Winner is being monitored by a counter-pollution team after grounding on the western side of the Isle of Lewis early on Monday.
The semi-submersible rig came loose from its tug during a towing operation and the severe weather stopped the crew of the Alp Forward from reconnecting the tow line.
No one was on board the rig when it grounded at Dalmore beach near Carloway, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.


Coastguard teams and Police Scotland are restricting access to the beach to make sure specialist equipment can reach the scene.
Environmental groups have expressed concerns about the incident, but the coastguard has said the risk of pollution was believed to be low.
UK Coastguard commander Mark Rodaway 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."
The UK Government is responsible for managing the response to the incident, and Hugh Shaw, the secretary of state's representative for maritime salvage and intervention, is travelling to the area.
Local politicians have called for an emergency towing vessel to be reintroduce to the area.
SNP MP Angus MacNeil campaigned on the issue after the previous emergency tow was removed.
He said: "This could have been a very different outcome, and it is another example of why we need to have an emergency towing vessel on the west coast of Scotland.
"The UK Government must return the ETV to Stornoway - a tug is an insurance policy for an unusual but possible event."
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: "The one remaining emergency tug that covers the north and west coast is based in Orkney and takes an estimated eight hours to reach the north Minch and a staggering 12 hours to reach Barra Head from its Orkney base.
"Just two days after the tug was removed from Stornoway in March 2012, a cargo ship ran aground on North Uist. There was no loss to life on that occasion either, fortunately, but we cannot simply rely on good fortune to protect staff, passengers and our environment from any future disasters."