The stricken Transocean Winner oil rig was due to be standing high and dry on the deck of a ship this morning.
Semi submersible heavy lift ship, the Hawk, was rising out of the sea with the rig on her deck.
The rig grounded at Dalmore on the west coast of Lewis in a storm two months ago.
It was taken to Broad Bay after being salvaged off the rocks.
Yesterday, the Hawk was partially sunk and the rig floated into position over the deck.
By late afternoon, the Hawk started pumping out ballast water to lighten herself and rise out of the water, with the rig standing on deck as cargo.
The operation was due to be completed last night, making the rig ready for its journey on to Turkey to be scrapped.
A spokeswoman for Transocean said last night: “The rig is now on the heavy lift vessel, which is de-ballasting. Work to secure the rig to the heavy lift vessel is expected to commence in the coming days once a variety of safety measures and assessments are complete.”
A spokeswoman for the MCA said: “I can confirm the rig has been safely loaded to the lift ship, the Hawk.”
Kenneth MacLeod, managing director of Songa Shipmanagement, which manages the Hawk, previously explained: “Usually the rigs we carry are between 10,000 and 20,000 tons.
“These are specialist ships, they are called semi submersible transport vessels.
“They have very large ballast capacity and a very open deck. They ballast the vessel under the water when they are fully submerged. The middle is completely under the water.
“The tugs tow the rig into position above the deck and the ship de-ballasts and lifts the rig onto the deck of the vessel.
“Tugs can tow a rig to a destination but it is very slow and you are really up against the elements, like the rig that crashed recently on the west coast.
“A semi submersible lifts it clear of the water and transports it as a cargo at high speed and optimum safety.”