Stranded vessel to be assessed before salvage operation

A car carrier which ran aground causing it to list heavily in a busy shipping lane is being assessed for stability before a salvage operation can be mounted.

The 25 crew members of the Hoegh Osaka were rescued by coastguard helicopter and lifeboats after it became stranded on Bramble Bank, in the Solent between Southampton and the Isle of Wight, at about 9.20pm on Saturday.

During the rescue operation, the 51,000-tonne Singapore-registered ship listed at 45 degrees.