The stricken Höegh Osaka cargo ship is being towed to a new location after self-floating at high water in the Solent.
The stricken Höegh Osaka cargo ship is being towed to a new location after self-floating at high water in the Solent.
According to the latest update from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Höegh Osaka self-floated at 1.55pm GMT and all salvors had left the vessel safely.
The list of the ship is reported to be unchanged and the vessel is currently under tow to a preferred holding position two miles east of the original grounding position.
This new location is just inside Portsmouth Harbour and is close to the area called Spitbank. Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth has established a temporary exclusion zone of 300 metres around the vessel. Only exempt vessels are to enter the exclusion zone.
The tow to the new position is being carried out by Svitzer, the salvors, and the new holding position will allow a full assessment of her condition.
Disruption to the Port of Southampton is minimal; there will be a slight restriction in traffic movements until the Höegh Osaka is clear of the main channel, but no closure of the port is anticipated.
Last night the MCA had issued a statement confirming that the Höegh Osaka would not be re-floated today, Wednesday 7 January.
It had been hoped that the cargo ship could be made secure, enabling salvors to continue the assessments of the vessel and analysis in order to prepare for a salvage operation during the next suitable weather window.
However, when Höegh Osaka self-floated, salvors took advantage of the opportunity to move the ship before the forecast severe weather moves in this weekend.
Höegh Osaka was deliberately grounded on Bramble Bank by its quick-thinking pilot and master of the ship, on Saturday when it began listing after leaving Southampton Docks and was believed to be at risk of capsizing.
In a statement, Höegh Autoliner said recent inspections had found that the vessel’s cargo of 1,400 cars and 70 to 80 pieces of excavators and heavy plant machinery and 500 tonnes of fuel were secure.