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Cargo ship: Stricken Solent vessel 'under control' Cargo ship: Stricken Solent vessel 'under control'
(about 1 hour later)
The cargo ship that has been stricken in the Solent since Saturday is now being towed after salvors said it "freed itself".The cargo ship that has been stricken in the Solent since Saturday is now being towed after salvors said it "freed itself".
The Hoegh Osaka was run aground off the Isle of Wight and had been listing at 52 degrees on Bramble Bank. The Hoegh Osaka was run aground off the Isle of Wight and is listing at 52 degrees on Bramble Bank.
Salvors Svitzer cited a combination of the tide and the water being pumped out of the vessel for its refloating.Salvors Svitzer cited a combination of the tide and the water being pumped out of the vessel for its refloating.
Hampshire Police Marine Unit said on Twitter the ship was "under control and being moved slowly east".Hampshire Police Marine Unit said on Twitter the ship was "under control and being moved slowly east".
It added a 500m exclusion zone was in force and advised other vessels to "stay clear". The Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the vessel had "self-floated at high water" just before 14:00 GMT.
A Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman said the vessel had "self-floated at high water" and added it was hoped it could be towed to a holding position in Southampton Water "pending a full assessment of her condition". The ship is being towed by Svitzer two miles east of its grounding position, towards Portsmouth Harbour and close to the area called Spitbank, a spokesman said.
"A decision on the next phase of the salvage operation will be made after the assessment," he added. He said all salvors had left the ship safely and a temporary exclusion zone of 300m (984ft) had been established around the vessel.
A full assessment of the ship's condition is expected to be carried out once the move is complete.
The MCA spokesman said disruption to the Port of Southampton was minimal but added there would be "a slight restriction in traffic movements" until the Hoegh Osaka was clear of the main channel.
He said a closure of the port was not anticipated.
Svitzer had hoped to refloat the vessel at high tide but this was delayed after the discovery of more water on the vessel.Svitzer had hoped to refloat the vessel at high tide but this was delayed after the discovery of more water on the vessel.
During a press conference in Southampton on Tuesday, Bram Sperling of salvors Svitzer said there was some water inside because of a "small opening in the vessel" that had since been closed. BBC reporter Steve Humphrey watched from Calshot as the vessel freed itself from the sandbank.
He described how it "pirouetted round" and went "completely the other way round to how she was over the last few days", prior to being towed by three tug boats.
At a press conference in Southampton on Tuesday, Bram Sperling of salvors Svitzer said there was some water inside because of a "small opening in the vessel" that had since been closed.
A refloat was the preferred option to avoid further damage to the ship from the sandbank.A refloat was the preferred option to avoid further damage to the ship from the sandbank.
A second option was to anchor it to the sandbank while plans were made to right its current position.A second option was to anchor it to the sandbank while plans were made to right its current position.
An MCA spokesman said on Tuesday calculations by the salvors had revealed more water had entered the vessel than previously thought.An MCA spokesman said on Tuesday calculations by the salvors had revealed more water had entered the vessel than previously thought.
Salvage experts from Svitzer boarded the ship on Monday and began carrying out an assessment to form a rescue plan.Salvage experts from Svitzer boarded the ship on Monday and began carrying out an assessment to form a rescue plan.
Speaking at a press conference after the grounding, Ingar Skiaker, chief executive of Hoegh Autoliners, said the crew deliberately ran the ship aground to avoid further damage.Speaking at a press conference after the grounding, Ingar Skiaker, chief executive of Hoegh Autoliners, said the crew deliberately ran the ship aground to avoid further damage.
There are 1,400 cars on board, including 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover products and 65 Minis, as well as 105 JCB machines.There are 1,400 cars on board, including 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover products and 65 Minis, as well as 105 JCB machines.
The ship is also carrying 500 tonnes of fuel, most of which is marine diesel oil. Experts plan to leave this aboard for the time being, as it has been secured and poses no risk to the environment.The ship is also carrying 500 tonnes of fuel, most of which is marine diesel oil. Experts plan to leave this aboard for the time being, as it has been secured and poses no risk to the environment.
Two crew members out of 25 rescued by RNLI Lifeboats and the Solent Coastguard on Saturday suffered non-life threatening injuries.Two crew members out of 25 rescued by RNLI Lifeboats and the Solent Coastguard on Saturday suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Two senior officers and a pilot stayed on board before being taken ashore.Two senior officers and a pilot stayed on board before being taken ashore.
The 51,000-tonne transporter, registered in Singapore, set sail from Southampton for Germany at about 20:20 GMT on Saturday.The 51,000-tonne transporter, registered in Singapore, set sail from Southampton for Germany at about 20:20 GMT on Saturday.