Cargo ship that ran aground allowed to continue its journey after salvage

A cargo ship that sparked a huge salvage operation after running aground more than a week ago has been allowed to continue its passage south.

Inspections revealed that the Dutch-registered MV Priscilla had suffered only minor damage after becoming stranded in the Pentland Firth and it has now been handed back to its owners.

The cargo ship with six crew members on board had been stuck on the Pentland Skerries off the Caithness coast since July 18.

It was refloated at high water at around 9pm on Wednesday after several previous attempts and was towed by tugs and escorted by lifeboat to sheltered waters in Scapa Flow in Orkney.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said a dive inspection carried out on Thursday revealed some minor damage which does not affect the structural integrity of the vessel.

The salvage contract was terminated yesterday and the ship was passed back to its owners.

Hugh Shaw, the acting Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for Maritime Salvage & Intervention, has now handed over responsibility for monitoring the vessel’s passage to the MCA.

The ship will now be allowed to continue its passage to Silloth in Cumbria with its remaining cargo under various strict conditions, the MCA said.

Part of the ship’s 3,300 tonne cargo of fertiliser was offloaded onto a barge during the salvage operation to lighten the vessel, while 28 tonnes of oil were also removed ahead of the refloating operation.

An Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: “Following discharge in Silloth, the owners will submit their future passage plans to take the vessel to a repair yard.

“The MV Priscilla is currently safe at anchor in Scapa Flow and awaiting suitable weather conditions for the passage.”