Hoegh Osaka salvage efforts ‘progressing well’

Salvors plan to move stricken ro-ro ship to Southampton later this week.    The U.K Maritime and Coastguard Agency said Monday that salvage operations aboard the roll-on, roll-off ship Hoegh Osaka are “progressing well.”
   De-watering operations finished at 11:30 Monday morning. Preparations are underway to begin the operation to pump the water that remains in the car decks into the empty fuel tanks on the ship.
   The vessel’s list is now at 47 degrees, compared to 50 degrees a week ago, and the Coastguard said “we expect it to improve slowly over the coming hours in accordance with the plan. Salvors plan to move the Hoegh Osaka to Southampton Port later this week, possibly late on Wednesday or early on Thursday.”
   The ship was was grounded intentionally after developing a list as it was leaving the Port of Southampton on Jan. 3 and the initial cause is still under investigation.
   Ingar Skiaker, chief executive officer of Höegh Autoliners, said the captain of the ship made the decision to ground the ship on Brambles Bank in the Solent near the Isle of Wight to save it and that the crew showed “great skill and seamanship” in challenging circumstances.