Cargo ship drifting off Fair Isle
THE Sullom Voe tug Tystie has taken the stricken cargo ship Myrte under tow but is now not expected to berth at the Greenhead Base in Lerwick before early on Thursday morning due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The Dutch registered freighter with nine crew on board was drifting 12 miles off Fair Isle after suffering engine failure following a fire in its engine room on Tuesday.
Shetland Coastguard was alerted at 5.10pm on Tuesday and has since been kept busy coordinating the rescue effort.
The 123 metre long Myrte was on route from Invergordon to Lerwick with a cargo of pipes for the oil industry.
The anchor handler Olympus Octopus was initially standing by and was later relieved by the emergency towing vessel Herakles.
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