Owners of the Hoegh Osaka say the “vast majority” of the 1,400 cars on board the ship are above the waterline as optimistic forecasts pinpoint either this Wednesday (21 January) or Thursday as most likely dates to tow the stricken ship back to Southampton.
Around 3,000t of water is being pumped out of the carship, with this being split between the dewatering operation that finished today, with the remaining liquid transfered from the car decks to empty fuel tanks on board.
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However, any forensic assessment of the Jaguar Land Rovers, Minis, JCBs and one Rolls-Royce Wraith will have to wait until the Hoegh Osaka is back in a secure berth at Southampton, which has now been negotiated.
“Hopefully, we might come to a resolution Wednesday or Thursday,” a Hoegh Autoliners spokesman told just-auto from Southampton. “The issue that confronts the port and ourselves is where to put 1,400 cars that will come off the vessel.
“The vast majority of them are above the waterline and so it depends on the inspectors from the various companies that have cars on there. To re-emphasise, our concern is the ship not the cargo.”
The gale force winds of the weekend have now calmed allowing salvers, Svitzer, to board the huge vessel using a mix of tugs and a helicopter, with the list slightly reducing from 52 degrees to 47 degrees as water is pumped out.
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By GlobalDataShould all go well with pumping, towing back to Southampton could be later this week, a procedure which should take around three to four hours from where the Hoegh Osaka is currently anchored near the Isle of Wight.
“There is a whole raft of inspectors that needs to come on and have a look, including the MAIB [Marine Accident Investigation Branch], probably somebody from the flag of the vessel, which is Singapore and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency [MCA],” added the Hoegh Autoliners spokesman.
The MCA has been closely involved in the salvage working with the UK Secretary of State Representative (SOSREP) to ensure the safety of other shipping at what is the UK’s busiest automotive port and to make sure no oil is leaking from the 500t of mixed fuel on board the Hoegh Osaka.
“Salvers have been going on and off using the helicopter and tugs – it is their bread and butter,” an MCA spokeswoman told just-auto from Southampton. “Getting on and off by tug has not been that easy although they are professionals.
“The plan is [Wednesday high tide] – that is what they are working to. The forecast is relatively favourable, so at high water if she is under her own steam or as much as she can be with tugs attached, the plan is to get her passaging back to port.
“There is a berth ready at Southampton. If we miss that window for high tide on Wednesday, then we might get stuck again.”
A notice to airmen has placed an air exclusion zone around the ship of one mile and a 2,000ft ceiling to allow for helicopter operations..
