Tug Crashed Into Stricken Solent Car-Transporter Hoegh Osaka

13th January 2015

#SolentSalvage - One of the tugs holding the stricken car-transporter Hoegh Osaka in the Solent has according to BBC News crashed into the vessel.

The tug moved from its position during high winds and collided with the ship with 1,400 cars on board during last Saturday afternoon.

No-one was injured but the tug was damaged and had to be replaced.

The salvage operation was hampered on Saturday because of poor weather conditions but the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said salvors had since managed to board the ship.

The Svitzer salvage team is said to be refining its plans because further high winds are predicted.

The MCA said salvors were now intending to start work on the ship's ballast before pumping the 3,000 tonnes of water out of the vessel.

A spokeswoman said: "Yesterday, weather conditions prevented any activity on the vessel other than to connect the third tug.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an investigation has begun into the ship incident in which the owners, Hoegh Autoliners said she was deliberately ran aground off the Isle of Wight.

For more coverage the BBC News has a report here.

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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