Oil-laden cargo vessel refloated

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A cargo ship loaded with fuel oil has been refloated after running aground in the Pentland Firth.

The Sunna, which has seven crew, got into difficulties on the island of Swona, Orkney, at 0500 GMT.

The vessel was refloated with the assistance of two Orkney harbour authority tugs and escorted to Lyness Bay, in Hoy.

The coastguard said the vessel would undergo an inspection before being allowed to put to sea again.

The Norwegian-registered Sunna, was carrying 37,000 litres of fuel oil and 1,900 tons of the alloy ferrosilicon from Grundartangi, Iceland, to Spurn Head in the River Humber.

Anglian Prince

Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted when the 2,652-ton ship ran aground on its bow on Tuesday morning.

The crew told coastguards that they had tried to free the vessel by going astern but had been unsuccessful.

The Orkney harbour authority tugs Erland and Harland and the coastguard emergency towing vessel the Anglian Prince were alerted.

RNLI's Longhope lifeboat was put on standby in case of evacuation and a coastguard pollution team was also placed on standby as a precaution.

The Sunna was eventually refloated with help from the harbour authority tugs and was tied up in Lyness Bay at 1020 GMT.

A coastguard spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Survey and Inspection Branch has been informed and there will be a full inspection of the vessel."