High winds and heavy seas forced the Norwegian Coast Guard to stand by and watch on Tuesday evening as an abandoned heavylift multipurpose (MPP) ship drifted towards the western Norwegian coast.
Maritime authorities said they were organising for an oil spill response but believed a tow could be attached before the 4,200-dwt Eemslift Hendrika (built 2015) grounded.
Owner Amasus Shipping and salvor Smit declined to comment on efforts to save the listing vessel after the rescue of its crew on Monday.
But the Norwegian Coastal Authority (NCA) announced that two salvage vessels were expected to reach the ship from Bergen and Kristiansund between 3am (0100 GMT) and 4am local time on 7 April.
At dusk on Tuesday, the Eemslift Hendrika was still some 75 to 90 km (40 to 50 nautical miles) west of Alesund, being monitored by the nearby coastguard vessel KV Sortland, which will supply pilots for tugs and escort the ship to land once salvors bring it under control.
The heavylift ship had threatened to capsize after its deck cargo of yachts and fisheries service vessels shifted. After the abandonment, however, the NCA said that the loss overboard of one deck cargo vessel "had a positive effect on the stability of the Eemslift Hendrika and may contribute to preventing it from capsizing".
"KV Sortland is still on the scene, and it is the NCA's eyes and ears. There are seas of 15 to 18 metres plus winds of 18 to 20 metres per second from the north. This makes it impossible for the coastguard to do anything but observe," the NCA said in its announcement.
Meanwhile, it was surveying available resources including "both vessels and trained people for a possible oil response action if the vessel reaches land and grounds".
The ship contains some 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 50 tonnes of diesel.
"As of now there is just over a day before that could happen, but it is probable that a tow will be attached before that," said NCA in the announcement.
"In that case the NCA will escort the vessel with KV Sortland and put its own pilots on board the towing vessels when that is possible."
Vessel tracking services showed a Smit-owned anchor-handling tug supply vessel, the 16,400-bhp Princess (built 2002), approaching the area. But a source briefed on Smit's plans told TradeWinds that vessel is not involved in the salvage effort.
