Shotley says goodbye and good riddance to noisy rig Prospector 5

Shotley resident are looking forward to good night of uninterrupted sleep after saying goodbye and good riddance to the jack up rig Prospector 5.

Three large tugs and a pilot boat inched the rig, used on oil and gas fields, slowly but surely along the river Stour, with world class sailor Terry Scutcher, passing her by a couple of times, before she went round the point to Felixstowe and out into the North Sea.

The colossal, floating iron structure is understood to be heading for the Glengorm gas fields off the northern Scotland coast, and at top speed of four knots and hour, will take weeks to arrive at its destination.

The rig, owned by and sailing under the flag of Vanuatu has been berthed at Parkeston Quay since April and the noisy neighbour has induced hundreds of complaints about its night time activities.

Ventilation units, generators and general overnight maintenance sounds have caused misery for residents and it had been hoped the rig would be gone by the end of September.

However, the departure date was delayed due to a downturn in the world-wide fuel industry and the owners have had to rethink their fleet movement.

Long wait for sleepless in Shotley

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