Drill rig Ocean Monarch prepares to leave Hobart

The huge drill rig which had Hobart talking for two months as it was moored in Ralphs Bay for maintenance work has pulled anchor and will be gone from the River Derwent tomorrow morning.

Ocean Monarch oil rig arrives in the River Derwent. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

THE huge drill rig which had Hobart talking for two months as it was moored in Ralphs Bay for maintenance work to be carried out has pulled anchor and will be gone from the River Derwent tomorrow morning.

From Hobart the Ocean Monarch will sail to Bass Strait before leaving Australian waters bound for Myanmar.

The drill rig, owned by Diamond Offshore, arrived in Tasmania in November and local marine business Taylor Brothers performed maintenance work and minor repairs on it.

The Ocean Monarch arriving in the River Derwent. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“The work is done and the rig will pull anchors at 10.30am,” Phillip Taylor said this morning.

“That will take 12 hours. it will be gone from the Derwent in the morning.

“Over its time here there was an amazing number of people coming and going from it and it certainly kept people busy.”

The 107-metre long, 21,000 tonne rig featured in the 1998 Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon.

Environment groups raised concerns about the impact on fish, but the Environmental Protection Authority said the rig had gone through strict checks.

MORE:

WARNING AFTER BOATERS IGNORE OCEAN MONARCH EXCLUSION ZONE

OCEAN MONARCH INSPECTS HULL AFTER EPA BATTLE

OCEAN MONARCH ‘UNLIKELY’ TO POSE RISE TO RIVER DERWENT: EPA

The EPA granted approval for the temporary mooring of the mobile offshore drilling unit in the River Derwent until tomorrow.

The EPA said a visual inspection of its hull, which indicated a low risk for biosecurity, was conducted in accordance with the direction given to the company by EPA Director, Wes Ford.

Mr Ford said that the company had satisfied the conditions of its Environmental Protection Notice.

Marine and Safety Tasmania established an exclusion zone of 500m for the duration of the rig’s stay and warned mariners to remain clear at all times.

A kayaker and a jet skier are facing fines of more than $800 after venturing too close to the rig.