BAD weather scuppered hopes that the giant oil production vessel Bonga could sail from the North-East over the weekend.
The vessel, the biggest to sail up the River Tyne, could have set off on its journey to Nigeria over the weekend because the tides were right.
But itwill now have to stay at Amec's Wallsend yard, where it has been fitted out, until the middle of the month when the tides are again suitable.
An Amec spokesman said Bonga would stay where it was at least until October 17.
A spokeswoman for Shell, which will use the vessel, said: "Because of the Bonga's size, we need the tides and current conditions to be absolutely perfect and then the weather conditions and visibility must be favourable in the North Sea.''
The 300-metre vessel has been fitted with a 17,000 tonne processing plant by 500 workers in a contract worth £300m.
The Bonga hotline on 0191-295 8711 has news of possible departure dates.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article