THE stranded transporter ship Hoegh Osaka has this morning held firm amid an assault from storms and torrential rain.

Gales force winds and lashing downpours battered the Solent last night where the 51,000 tonne vessel is being held off Lee-on-the-Solent.

Now embattled salvage teams preparing the next stage of the huge rescue operation are anticipating the worst weather is over and are eager to resume work.

It comes as the Svitzer salvage team and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) hold top level meetings to decide when crews can return to the vessel.

Crews on three tugs securing the ship in place at Alpha Anchorage withstood winds of up to 70 knots in stormy conditions last night.

It followed teams taking extra precautions to secure the vessel - which is listing at 52 degrees.

Measures included installing extra lashing to strap down its cargo of 1,400 Landrover, Jaguar and Mini vehicles and 105 JCBs and other pieces of plant machinery.

A safety process was also put in place to release tugs and for the ship to be moved to a sandbank north of its position to rest if the weather became too overwhelming.

But a Svitzer spokesman said the ship held firm and told the Daily Echo: “The worst of the weather has carried through.

“It's still blowy and blustery but they have survived the night.

“They did well and got through the worst of it and they now have meetings this morning.”

The rescue mission involves pumping 3,000 tonnes of water that has collected in the hold and re-balancing its ballast system to right it before towing it back to the port of Southampton.

Poor weather has hampered the operation but teams aim to bring the ship in next week.

A helicopter has been called in to help salvors board the ship more easily.

As previously reported Osaka was deliberately ran aground on Bramble Bank off East Cowes when she began listing soon after leaving the Port of Southampton on Saturday, January 3.