Lysblink Seaways Ready for Towage

The Lysblink Seaways is going to be moved this afternoon after 153 tons of fuel oil was successfully pumped from the grounded ship onto the tug Kingdom of Fife, the UK Coastguard updates.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage & Intervention has authorised the move which should have begun around 2 pm GMT today.

As bad weather has been forecast for the coming days, a risk assessment has been carried out and the decision taken to move the vessel into a more sheltered position.

The tug Kingdom of Fife will tow the Lysblink Seaways out of Mingary Bay which is 1.5 miles east of Kilchoan Pier to safe anchorage in Scallastle Bay.

It will take between four and a half to five hours to complete the 17 mile journey. The Temporary Exclusion Zone of 200 metres will still apply to the vessel while she is being moved.

This decision has the full support of the Scottish Environment Group and Marine Scotland.

The Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Herakles will remain on standby but will be released once the Lysblink Seaways is in a safe position.

A small oil leak was detected from the vessel’s starboard after the grounding, which the coastguard described as  “an egg cup in volume as it has created a light sheen of about 2m by 2m.” 

Contractors have deployed a sorbent boom to capture any subsequent releases of oil.

Lysblink Seaways self-floated from the foreshore at Kilchoan shortly before 9 pm on Thursday, February 19.

The vessel was towed back out to sea on Sunday, February 22 as part of contingency plan to stabilize the vessel as increased wind caused it to drag her anchor.