Town will complete laying of damaged emergency pipeline

Vestmannaeyjar municipality will complete the laying of the NSL-4 civil protection pipeline after it was damaged overnight on Sunday, mbl.is reports. The municipality considers the damage a total loss.

“It will then be examined whether anything can be salvaged from the pipeline, but it is damaged as stated in the announcement,” Mayor Íris Róbertsdóttir told mbl.is.

The municipality has received a preliminary report on the incident, but it will not be made public until it has been completed.

“It is clearly a matter of great importance that a civil protection pipeline be laid to Vestmannaeyjar. First and foremost, however, this is a major disappointment: the pipeline was damaged during laying when just over six kilometres remained before reaching the islands,” Róbertsdóttir said.

Laying will not resume until an updated risk assessment and other necessary documents have been approved, to ensure the highest possible level of safety during the remaining work.

Vestmannaeyjar municipality stressed that the decision to continue laying the pipeline did not constitute an admission of responsibility for the incident or the damage. It said all of the municipality’s rights remained intact and that insurance matters would continue through their normal procedures.