Crew rescued from stricken tug off Devon coast

Further update: The tug Christos XXII, damaged after the vessel it was towing collided into its side off Torbay yesterday, is now stable with risk of pollution very low.

Attention has now turned to the towed vessel, an ex German Naval training ship the Emssttrom, which had been listing too heavily for salvors to get onboard. This vessel has now sunk, approximately 2.5 nautical miles east by north from Hope’s Nose, Torquay in 23 metres of water.   This ship is empty and is not a pollution risk.

Earlier: Salvors are currently onboard tug Christos XXII, with pumping operations continuing to go well. Divers have also now been deployed to inspect and repair. The fate of the decommissioned vessel it was towing however is not so promising. A Coastguard spokesman said earlier "The vessel is listing badly and we expect it to sink in the next couple of hours. However, this does not pose any threat to the environment as it was not carrying any fuel. It will join other sunken vessels in the area and add to the interest for local divers."

Eight crew members have been rescued from a tug boat a mile off Hopes Nose near Torbay after it began taking on water when it was struck by a vessel it was towing.

Brixham Coastguard has been coordinating the rescue operation after the collision happened just after 7pm on Sunday (13th January).

The RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene, along with the local harbour tug from Brixham, the Royal Navy vessels HMS Lancaster and HMS Severn, the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor and the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team.

Efforts are now being made to keep the tug afloat with a salvage crew from the Royal Navy on board, and pumps in use to try to control the water level.

RNLI and Royal Navy vessels have now left the scene. Another tug has started salvage operations and is currently pumping water from the stricken tug. The water level is continuing to fall and now awaiting divers to start repairs. Two more tugs are heading from Falmouth to assist.

Pumping out of water continues to go well. Despite earlier concerns, the MCA report that the situation is more stable and confirmed at first light no report of pollution. Divers have been requested by not ETA yet.