The last rig leaves the Firth
The last rig leaves the Firth
The Essar Wildcat (ex Transocean Wildcat) is towed out between the Sutors as it starts a 90 day journey to Kakinada India. Due to the height of the derrick, the Suez Canal cannot be used, so it will go the long round, via the Cape. She is being towed by the (very colourful) Fairmount Sherpa, who steamed to the Cromarty Firth from Dubai, and the combination will travel at an average speed of 8 knots, all the way back again.
Essar paid $220M for this 30 year old rig, which has been cold stacked in the Firth since the late 90's.
So apart from the Galaxy Jackup alongside the service base at Invergordon, which is due to go out in the next few weeks, the Firth is empty.
