Photos from local photographer Gordon Hamilton showcases the barge and its cargo of a topside drilling platform departing from the Port of Rosyth and passing beneath the iconic bridges.

The Iron Lady had been berthed at the Port of Rosyth since its arrival on April 11 before departing for Energy Park Fife in Methil where its cargo will be unloaded prior to its decommissioning.

The Iron Lady was towed by three of Forth Ports-owned tugs.

What happened in April?
 

Onlookers on both the north and south banks of the Forth Estuary were treated to a spectacular as one of the most remarkable marine operations ever undertaken on the river unfolded before their eyes.

In an operation spanning two days, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit – at 382 metres long and 124 metres wide, the largest construction vessel in the world – transferred its huge cargo of a topside drilling platform onto the 200 metre long cargo barge, the Iron Lady, on Saturday.

The following morning the Pioneering Spirit, which was specifically designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large offshore platforms, separated from the Iron Lady and the cargo barge was towed clear. The Pioneering Spirit then set off once more for the North Sea.

With its cargo safely secured to its deck, the Iron Lady was then towed westwards along the River Forth by Forth Ports’ tugs, the Craigleith, Inchcolm and Fidra in a carefully planned operation to ensure the structure had sufficient clearance to transit below the iconic Forth Bridge, then the Forth Road Bridge and finally under the Queensferry Crossing before berthing alongside at the Port of Rosyth. It was scheduled to remain moored at the Port of Rosyth for around six weeks before being towed back east along the river to the Energy Park Fife in Methil where its cargo will be unloaded for decommissioning.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports, said:

“It was a truly spectacular sight to see this huge vessel offloading its cargo within our deep water on the River Forth. Watching the Iron Lady towed safely into the Port of Rosyth by our tugs against the backdrop of all three Forth crossings was a bit special too.

“However, we can expect to see sights like these more and more frequently as oil and gas decommissioning projects from the North Sea and elsewhere gather momentum. The Forth Estuary’s deep and sheltered water, alongside the decommissioning facilities on both the River Forth and River Tay, make this an ideal location for operations like this weekend’s.”

What is Forth Ports?

Forth Ports Limited owns and operates eight commercial ports in the UK – Tilbury on the Thames, Dundee on the Firth of Tay and six on the Firth of Forth – Leith, Grangemouth, Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy.

Within and around the Firths of Forth and Tay, Forth Ports manages and operates an area of 280 square miles of navigable waters, including two specialised marine terminals for oil and gas export and provides other marine services, such as towage and conservancy.