Stricken cargo ship back in port

The first of the hundreds of cars which made up the cargo of the rescued car carrier Hoegh Osaka have started to be off-loaded.

Four tugs towed the 51,000-tonne ship back into Southampton Port last Thursday after it had become stranded for a total of 19 days off the Hampshire coast.

A spokesman for ship owners Hoegh Autoliners said that most of the cars had survived unscathed, while some had suffered dents and scratches.

An excavator had shifted punching a hole in the hull causing 3,000 tonnes of water to flood some of the car decks. The spokesman said that the condition of cars in this area was not yet known although "a small number" were under water.

Damaged cars including Land Rovers have been driven off the stricken carrier Hoegh Osaka.

The 51,000-tonne ship has a cargo for 1,400 cars and 105 pieces of construction equipment worth a total of £60 million.

ITV News Meridian has filmed a number of damaged vehicles being removed today.

A number of high-end cars have been driven off the stricken carrier Hoegh Osaka this morning.

The 51,000-tonne ship has a cargo for 1,400 cars and 105 pieces of construction equipment worth a total of £60 million.

The Singapore-registered vessel is moored at Berth 101 in Southampton Port after being deliberately beached on Bramble Bank sandbank on January 3.

The ship had to be beached after it began listing after leaving port.

Work continues on the carrier Hoegh Osaka which is moored at Berth 101 at Southampton Port.

The Singapore-registered vessel, which has a cargo of 1,400 cars and 105 pieces of construction equipment, worth an estimated £60 million, was beached deliberately on Bramble Bank sandbank, near Southampton, on January 3 after it began listing as it left port.

A large stone cutter machine weighing more than 30 tonnes was in the way of crews being able to remove other cargo from the ship, which also includes JCB construction equipment.

Once moved, it is likely the other vehicles can be driven off under their own power, a spokesperson from Hoegh Autoliners said.

The company hope the discharge operation will be over by the end of the week.

An investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is underway.

Salvors who successfully brought the Hoegh Osaka back to port have been praised for avoiding an environmental disaster

But after 19 days stranded in the Solent - what now for the cargo ship - and the millions of pounds worth of cars and machinery on board? Richard Slee reports.

The Hoegh Osaka is now safely at its berth at Southampton Port. The salvors are currently in charge of the vessel and working to transfer responsibility for the ship back to its owners. Once the ship is safely transferred back to the owners, the Secretary of State's Representative, Maritime Salvage & Intervention, will have no further involvement.

The Hoegh Osaka ran aground on the Bramble Bank on Saturday 3 January.

Yesterday, at 1415, the Hoegh Osaka moved from her position in Alpha anchorage towards the port of Southampton. This was slightly ahead of schedule because the ship’s crew managed to lift the anchor quicker than planned.

The vessel was safely delivered to Berth 101 in the Port of Southampton, four hours later, at 1815.

Salvage experts are planning to refloat the stricken cargo ship stranded on a sandback in the Solent on the high tide tomorrow lunchtime. The car carrier Heogh Osaka was deliberately run aground on the Bramble Bank on Saturday night after it began listing and was in danger of sinking. Salvage teams have been on board the ship and now believe they can right her and pull her free. Here's our report from Richard Slee.

Braum Sperlings from salvage team Svitzer: "By tomorrow morning we will know whether we can refloat the vessel by using a complex formula or whether it will stay on the bank. There's a few options that are being considered."