Maritime question for folks on the West coast of Scotland

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 Newbuild100 10 Sep 2016
On the 1st of september, we were on Mull (at the very NW of the Isle actually).
Looking out to sea, and West of The small Isles, (and very much at distance but could be seen with naked eye, just) there appeared to be what looked like 4 very high, reddish "tower blocks" in the middle of the ocean.
We asked locals what they were and even though they had seen them too, nobody had any clues to their identity.
During the hour or so we spent on the beach, the positions of each of the towers changed somewhat until they eventually dissapeared over the horizon heading North, obviously afloat on some very large ship or other.

Serious question. Anyone any idea what they were at all, or indeed, who do we ask to find out (Some shipping company maybe) ????

Thanks folks
 Trangia 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

Probably a drilling ship or rig undertow?
In reply to Newbuild100:

Don't know but wild guess - some oil rigs in transport position have the legs jacked up so it looks from a distance just like four towers.

Also, heavy transportation ship/barge for carrying super sized cargo likes as big as oil rigs, or a "just" a jacking up barge? When empty some not just have four towers and flat deck. One tower at each corner?
andymac 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:
Sounds like you were at Caliach .or the Langamull walk.

I worked at a house down the Caliach road last month,and spent an hour enjoying at the sea views one day.

Can't think what that would be.apart from what has been said; a drilling rig.

That wouldn't be on a ship though?

can only think there is some connection to the rig that had run aground on Then isle of Lewis. And was due to be refloated about then.
Post edited at 09:08
 Tobes 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:
As others have said, likely a jack up rig of some kind. It's a pontoon type base with between 3 or 4 legs which when in position for drilling the legs are lowered to the sea bed. Normally the legs are limited to around 100 meters though I believe there are now ones with legs to 180 meters.

However if the area for drilling is deeper than the 100-150 meter range the company would more likely use a semi-sub for the drilling. Not sure of the depths in the area you mention so all is speculation.

I'm aware there is some new activity over in that area, despite the closures of rigs on the East coast. Big fields which despite the low price of a barrel currently, look to be going 'online' in due course.

T.

Forgot to mention, for long journeys the jack up would be under tow by anchor handling vessel or similar. Moving short distances within the field the jack up can move itself.
Post edited at 09:31
OP Newbuild100 10 Sep 2016
In reply to andymac:

Thanks so far guys. Yes we were at Langamull. (A stunning place I may add)

Just to confirm. The towers had nothing on the tops of them, and they were being transported seperately (Well, that very much how it appeared anyway)
Strangely, we coudnt see the ships they were actually on, although im guessing by the time we saw them first, the ships may have dipped over the horizon !
They also seemed to be more or less the same height at one point in time and then different heights at another, although im guessing thats because they wouldnt have been exactly the same distance from us ALL the time (If that makes sense !!)
 deepsoup 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:
Not much help now, but there are a few websites that let you see where various vessels are from AIS data, eg:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-7/centery:57/zoom:8
https://www.vesselfinder.com/

The data does get cached, and there are some sites where you can see historical data for free. I've just been trying to find something on this one (but drawing a blank I'm afraid):
http://www.aisliverpool.org.uk/historymap.php?map=StKilda&date=20160901

The only other thing I can think of to solve your mystery might be to ask the coastguard, via social media perhaps? Tobermory Coastguard have a page on Facebook.
OP Newbuild100 10 Sep 2016
In reply to deepsoup:

Thanks very much
I appreciate your help
OP Newbuild100 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Frank4short:

Er no sorry. They actually looked like high rise blocks of flats/appartments
 Rob Naylor 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

Anything like this:

http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/9610/images/225058/large/3-imag...

(platform accommodation unit)?
 AndyC 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

One of these?

https://www.wired.com/2014/07/dockwise-vanguard-shipping/

Can't see that any have been in the area but first thought would be Transocean wanting to get Transocean Winner safely delivered to the scrap heap.
MarkJH 10 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:
A superior mirage? I have occasionally seen these at sea. Usually looking at the land and seeing (very real looking) lines of cliffs along the base of an island which has none. Could it have been the distorted image of a fishing fleet steaming over the horizon?
Post edited at 21:29
 skog 11 Sep 2016
In reply to MarkJH:

> A superior mirage?

I wonder if that's it.

I took a snap of one at Clachtoll a few years ago:

http://www.ootnaboot.scot/clachtoll201205/20120524-05Mirage_Ship.JPG
OP Newbuild100 11 Sep 2016
In reply to Frank4short:

Nope, nothing like that Frank4short !
OP Newbuild100 11 Sep 2016
In reply to Rob Naylor:

No rob, sorry.
OP Newbuild100 11 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

A few more clues . . . (Dont forget we could only just see them with the naked eye, but was far clearer with the decent binoculars we had)

. .the towers seemed to be solid
. .appeared to be sailing north (ish)
. .they did appear to be moving seperately
. .a few people have suggested they could be the legs of an oil rig, esp as it seems they are sometimes transported with the actual rig very much at sea level, and then raised to height in when place.
. . We are pretty sure they appeared to change height in relation to each other (im guessing one dipped over the horizon first. They were, after all, miles away)

Ive been in touch with the Toberymory lifeboat people to see if they can shed any light on the matter. nothing so far though.


What a mystery !

. . .
 deepsoup 11 Sep 2016
In reply to skog:
> I took a snap of one at Clachtoll a few years ago:
> http://www.ootnaboot.scot/clachtoll201205/20120524-05Mirage_Ship.JPG

Wow, what a strange phenomenon. (And a great photo, good catch.)

Daft idea possibly - are Mingulay and Pabbay normally out of sight over the horizon from there? Could a mirage like this make them visible, perhaps only bits of them, as the light gets bent around?
Post edited at 20:00
 inboard 12 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

What was the weather like? Unless unsettled, I suspect that it was a mirage. They're common in arctic waters but far from uncommon around Scotland. Islands and boats can appear closer, and/ or far higher, than they are.

I doubt it was pabbay/ mingulay, they're too far off. Most likely boats.
 Rob Naylor 12 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

Or one of the many strange-looking vessels operated by Jan de Nul? This one's a windfarm installer called "Vole au Vent":

http://www.jandenul.com/en/wind-turbine-installation-vessel

OP Newbuild100 12 Sep 2016
In reply to inboard:

The weather was sunny and calm that day !
 inboard 12 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

Sounds as though mirage was likely then. Could easily have been fishing boats just beyond the horizon - and that's much more likely waters for fishing boats than wind farm construction vessels or oil rigs in transit (which, were they transiting that coast, would more likely be further W, far beyond Coll/ Tiree)
 Steve Perry 12 Sep 2016
In reply to Newbuild100:

I think as already mentioned isn't that when they refloated the rig that beached on the western isles?
Offshore wind turbine masts are transported on jack up vessels in a standing position. The new 6MW ones are 200m high.
MarkJH 13 Sep 2016
In reply to inboard:

> Sounds as though mirage was likely then.

I think so too, but just to muddy the waters, there was a heavy load carrier (MV Aura) transiting the Minch on the 1st, which I believe has a contract delivering wind turbine parts from Belfast to North sea ports. Doesn't fit with separate ships, but the 1st picture on the marinetraffic page does seem similar to the description (sort of)....
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/230601000


Partial track for that day here: http://www.shipais.com/shiptrail.php?mmsi=230601000&date=20160901

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