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Second oil rig for Sheerness arrives ahead of schedule

09:55, 31 July 2020

updated: 12:57, 31 July 2020

The Isle of Sheppey now has a second oil rig towering over the coast of Sheerness.

The sister platform of Prospector 1, which is already moored at Sheerness Docks, arrived this morning more than four hours ahead of schedule.

Watch the moment it was pulled into place.

A small crowd came to watch as it was towed by three offshore supply ships, the Siem Opal, Siem Garnet and Biscay Sentinel at around 8.30am.

Named Ran, the rig was pushed and pulled into position by tugs and then jacked up on their legs.

Prospector 1 was built in 2013 in China and valued at £123 million. It arrived on Saturday, May 16, and has three 547-feet tall legs.

This floating jack-up drilling rig was also built in 2013 in Singapore and has 525-feet long legs. It can drill to a depth of 35,000 feet in 400 feet of water.

The rigs are being stored by Peel Ports while their owner Borr Drilling finds new work.

The rig arrived at 8.30am this morning
The rig arrived at 8.30am this morning

They have their own cranes, engines, a helipad and accommodation for 140 workers. They have been in the North Sea drilling for oil and gas.

It was earlier thought that Prospector 5 was to join Prospector 1 in August but latest reports suggest it will stay in Harwich.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey

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