Mystery Container Washes Up On Scottish Beach

BBC News ^ | 29 Dec 2007 | BBC

[af_vet_rr]

Experts are trying to identify a huge metal container that has been washed up on a beach in the Western Isles.

The tank, which is 27m high, has no markings and is thought to have fallen from a ship before being washed up on the west of Benbecula.

It was discovered by a dog walker on Poll Na Crann beach - known locally as Stinky Bay - near Griminish.

Stornoway Coastguard is using two numbers on the container to try to find out where the item has come from.

Alasdair MacEachen, assistant director of environmental services at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar told BBC Scotland: "It's certainly generated a fair bit of interest with people walking on the beach or just travelling along the road, because you can actually see it from the main road along the west side of Benbecula.

"It would be standing almost 30m tall and really looks pretty much like a silo. I think it's a bulk storage tank of some sort, possibly for storing some liquids."

[unspun]

There are experts for this?

Flotsam and Jetsam Studies -- I'd look of it in the curricula of a state sponsored university near you.

[2111USMC]

A stainless steel ball valve at that.

Somewhere there’s a project manager, production manager, and plant manager that are really pissed off about the late delivery.

[bannie]

It's a mystery!

There is a window on the bottom...

[Cvengr]

Nothing escaped the Kirsk disaster, did it?

[Vince Ferrer]

It is definitely not a missile. It is probably for food or chemical storage, or possibly brewing.

[bikerman]

I think ringo is better than both.

[Semper911]

I am pretty sure this is one of the Professor’s projects. Then, just as he was about to test it, he was distracted by Ginger, and Gilligan stupidly tripped on its mooring line, allowing it to float away.

[2111USMC]

Ginger used to distract me alot, too.

[Semper911]

Ginger used to distract me alot, too.

But I bet you married Mary Anne, didn't you?

[Army Air Corps]

It looks similar to a cold fermentation tank.

[dbacks]

I wondered where I left it. Darn!

[dbacks]

Actually it is a Hillary sized tampon.

[visualops]

[Dust in the Wind]

It is missing the bottom attaching piece, looks to be ripped off...

Not only stainless steel but covered with foam insulation also. Even as salvage it is worth some cutting fuel, eh?

[Battle Axe]

Quick!

Someone call Buckhead and see if he can identify the font used on the numbers.

[BfloGuy]

The tank, which is 27m high

I'm not very good at metric. How many pounds is that?

[maine-iac7]

Paging Mr. Kuchinich, we found your mother ship....

[ByDesign]

If it’s washed ashore in Scotland, I’d say it’s a storage tank that came off a oil rig or ship. The dent and the ripped material at the tip of the cone indicate it was probably storm damaged, and the numbers are spray painted and use western numbers.

I’m betting water tank for an oil rig. One of the oil companies will be along to fetch it shortly.

[maine-iac7]

the numbers look like they were put on by hand with a giant magic marker

[maine-iac7]

Is the space station missing a ‘room”?