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Tanker 'at risk of coming ashore' Storm-hit tanker towed to safety
(about 3 hours later)
A tanker with 13 crew on board is in difficulty off the Isle of Wight as storms batter southern England. A tanker which got into difficulty off the Isle of Wight when storms battered southern England has been towed to Southampton for repairs.
The Swedish registered Astral began dragging anchor about one mile (1.6km) to the east of the island and was at risk of coming ashore. The Swedish registered Astral began dragging anchor about a mile (1.6km) to the east of the island and at one stage was at risk of coming ashore.
Several tugs have managed to secure the 11,000 tonne ship and it is under tow to Southampton. Several tugs had to secure the 11,000 tonne ship with 13 crew on board.
A Solent Coastguard spokesman said: "The crew are working as hard as they can to contain the situation." The Astral arrived in Southampton Water just off Southampton Dockhead at about 1545 GMT, said Solent Coastguard.
Bembridge Lifeboat was launched to standby throughout the operation. 'Steering mechanism'
It's pretty horrendous down here John KeyworthBembridge Lifeboat Station The vessel was heading for the Esso refinery in Fawley with a cargo of gas oil when it ran into trouble.
The Coastguard spokesman said there were no plans to airlift the crew off the vessel. It is believed the ship's rudder was damaged after hitting a large shallow bank near Bembridge at about 0700 GMT.
"The main thing is to stop her coming ashore," he said. A spokesman from Solent Coastguard said: "One of the refineries will disembark the cargo.
"All being well, they'll be under way in a minute." "When it went over the shallow ground it hit its rudder, which has damaged its steering mechanism."
Earlier John Keyworth, from Bembridge Lifeboat station, said: "This tanker's about three quarters of a mile offshore at Bembridge here. A counter-pollution expert is expected to check for any leaks, he added.
"She's run aground initially, being battered by the high waves, and we're just standing by out there with the lifeboat at the moment. Earlier, two coastguard tugs and an RNLI lifeboat, with six crew aboard, were dispatched in force 11 winds to help the stricken tanker.
"Initially they had a problem onboard, which obviously caused them to run aground, and the weather's now not helping things, it's pretty horrendous down here." Bembridge Lifeboat was launched to standby throughout the towing operation.