Dutch salvor Royal Boskalis Westminster has said the situation regarding the damaged Frontline tanker Front Altair is "still worrisome."
Boskalis subsidiary Smit Salvage won the contract to salvage both the 110,000-dwt Norwegian vessel (built 2016) and the 27,000-dwt BSM-managed tanker Kokuka Courageous (built 2010), both of which were hit by torpedoes or mines off Iran on Thursday.
It was appointed by insurers Gard and Japan Club.
"The situation of the Front Altair with a cargo of naphtha is still worrisome," it said on Friday.
"The crew was able to safely leave the ship and the fire was extinguished yesterday afternoon.
"A salvage team was flown in to execute the salvage operation on site with accompanying specialist equipment."
Kokuka Courageous, carrying a methanol cargo, is stable, it said.
"Here too the crew was able to safely leave the vessel after which the ship was stabilised," Boskalis added.
"A towing connection was successfully established yesterday afternoon and the crew was able to return to the vessel. The vessel is currently being towed to a port in the Gulf region."
The salvage operations are being carried out in close consultation with the relevant local authorities, including the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Center (MEMAC), Boskalis said.
