Salvage crews expect to ease the giant car transporter in the Solent almost upright this afternoon.

The angle of the Hoegh Osaka has already been reduced to 25 degrees - nearly half of its original list of 52 degrees.

Salvage crews are expecting to ease it to 15 degrees in the next few hours.

But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) stressed it will not be moved until the weather is suitable.

 

Daily Echo:

Hugh Shaw, Secretary of State for Maritime and Salvage, said the 51,000 tonne vessel's list has been reduced to 25 degrees from the 52 degrees it was leaning when it was first deliberately ran aground.

He said: "A further reduction in the vessel is due with management of ballast water in the ship once it has been reduced to 15 degrees.

"That may be in the next few hours."

He said this will allow members of the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to board and begin investigating how the vessel began experiencing problems.

Once they have finished some of the ship's original crew will be able to board to re-start some of the ship's systems such as large ballast pumps and lighting.

But he was unable to confirm when the ship will be towed into Southampton Water saying the weather needs to be favourable.

Daily Echo:

Tomorrow afternoon is a potential weather window but he expects the weather to begin worsening on Friday.

Mr Shaw said: "It's very difficult.

"Good progress is being made this morning but there is still a lot of hard work ahead.

"Having come this far and reduced the vessel by 25 degrees we are not going to rush it to meet particular deadlines.

"When the salvage master comes back to me and says its in a fit condition to move it we will have that discussion and I'll give the green light from there.

"But with the windows and steps to be taken I can't say with certainty."

The ship will be towed with a team comprising of two pilots and four tugs.

A number of the original crew including the captain will be on board to help tie up the vessel at the dockside.

It is expected to take four hours and it is not likely to create any restrictions to the Port of Southampton.

Trained pollution experts will be on standby during the operation.

Once the ship is in port there will be a formal handover from the salvors to Owners Hoegh who will be able to start inspecting the cargo.

Teams will also need to be on standby to man mooring ropes and ensure the ship is still in place.

But Mr Shaw said it will take "some time" to move the vehicles and plant machinery onboard.

The ship needs to be below 5 degrees before it is suitable to bring it into port so that it is suitable to set up offloading ramps.