The oil platform that was seen over several days floating to and fro across the horizon is now docked in Almería Port.

The semisubmersible drilling platform, Ocean Confidence, weighing nearly 28,000 tonnes, had been waiting out weather conditions whilst technical difficulties were being sorted out in Almería since the 28th of March

It finally managed to dock in the eastern end of the port after special measures had been installed to prevent damage to the dockside and to the platform itself.

Three port tugs were used to manoeuvre the looming platform into the port: VB Almería, VB Teckel and the Sertosa Veinticuatro, as well as the ocean going tug that had towed it all the way from the Canary Islands.

The platform left Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the 12th of March en route for Almería, towed by Special Vessel Alp Guard under the Dutch flag . Many people saw the platform heading East, then West, then East… killing time until the special protection for the dockside was in place.

Ocean Confidence will remain in Almería Port for two months before beginning the next stage when it will be towed to Turkey – its final destination.

Ocean Confidence measures 97.48 metres long, 72,52 metres wide and the platform crane has a height 70 metres. Not exactly a Tonka Toy, then…