 Leask Marine
The Royal Oak Contract 
On the 14 October 1939 the German U boat, U-47, covertly made her way under the cover of darkness into Scapa Flow and sank the Royal Oak with a devastating torpedo attack. That night 883 men lost their lives and the site is now marked by a solitary green buoy. Oil has been seeping from the wreck since she sank, staining the surface of Scapa Flow. Great sensitivity was needed to balance the growing environmental concerns of the leaking oil with the need to respect the grave of so many men.
In 2001 Leask Marine was sub-contracted by Briggs Marine to carry out the work for the MOD Salvage and Marine Operations Integrated Project Team (S&MO IPT) to assist in the hull mapping and Hot Tapping work, as well as the oil recovery from the wreck itself. The MoD and Leask Marine have together developed HSE working protocols that enabled MoD salvage divers to work successfully alongside Leask Marine divers when working-up the operational techniques used to tap the hull. Special contamination suits were utilised to provide optimum protection in this potentially hazardous environment. The photographs below illustrate some of the range of technology and breadth of skill required in this delicate operation.  Divers returning to the surface.  Divers Up. The leaking oil from the Royal Oak can be seen on the sea in the top right hand side of the picture.  Away to de-kit.
Dougie Leask: douglas@leaskmarine.com
© Leask Marine
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