In January 2018 the two monster crane ships from Seaways Heavy Lift, Oleg Strashnov and Stanislav Yudin docked at Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth. Imagery taken with full permissions from the Port of Cromarty Firth.

The Oleg Strashnov is a unique hull shape and is outfitted with the latest technology. Its 5,000 tonnes revolving crane has a main hook lifting height of 102m. There are 800 tonnes and 200 tonnes auxiliary hooks and a 30 tonnes trolley hoist.

The crane vessel Stanislav Yudin has a 2,500 tonnes revolving crane, a 500 tonnes auxiliary hook and a 30 tonnes trolley hoist. With 78.4 m on the main hook and 100.8 m on the auxiliary, the Stanislav Yudin is ideal for a broad range of offshore installation tasks.

Crane ships Oleg Strashnov and Stanislav Yudin

Looking over the Cromarty Firth which has in the past had 17 rigs stacked.

These rigs need periodic surveys and they come in and get work done – major maintenance or to install client-specific equipment top-side – before going back out to drill.

There are six ‘hot-stacked’ which are on ‘warm standby’, ready to go with 60 onboard, and another six ‘cold-stacked’, empty.

According to the BBC in August 2017 two men boarded a cold stacked rig:

'The pair, who describe themselves as "urban explorers", took a dinghy to the Ocean Princess, one of several offshore structures in the Cromarty Firth.

Police Scotland said it was aware of the incident and has begun an investigation.

The platform's owner, Diamond Offshore, confirmed an incident took place.

The Cromarty Firth Port Authority has declined to comment.

The incident is understood to have happened at the weekend and the men were thought to have spent a night onboard.'

Two giants dock at Invergordon

Oil rigs of the Cromarty Firth - October 2017