A stricken cargo ship was tonight being towed back to safety after taking on water north of Orkney.
A major rescue operation was launched after the ship Skog reported a loss of power due to a cooling problem at about 3.10am yesterday.
The Barbados-registered vessel also began to take on water while drifting about four miles north of Papa Westray before the arrival of help yesterday morning.
It is understood that the ship was taking on water at a rate of about 500l per hour to the engine room.
The 325ft cargo ship was carrying a load of paper from Norway when it ran into trouble.
Last night it was being towed towards Kirkwall Harbour for repairs by the Orkney-based emergency tug Herakles.
However, it is not expected to arrive in port until this morning.
The ten crew members remain on board and are uninjured.
A number of emergency vehicles were sent to help the cargo ship yesterday morning, including the Sumburgh-based search helicopter Rescue 900 which transferred pumps to the crew to try and clear some of the water from Skog.
As well as Herakles, the oil industry rescue vessel Vos Hera also attended and acted as back-up.
Meanwhile lifeboats from Stromness and Kirkwall also assisted at the scene.
A spokesman for the volunteer Stromness crew said that the ship was drifting in a 16ft westerly swell when they arrived at the scene.
The Stromness crew was stood down and they headed for home at about 11.50am with the Kirkwall lifeboat crew remaining at the scene as the tow continued.
The spokesman for the crew described the return journey as “bumpy”.
A spokeswoman for the coastguard said: “After the vessel reported that it was drifting without engine power and taking in water this morning, Shetland Coastguard sent the Coastguard rescue helicopter to the scene and requested the Stromness and Kirkwall RNLI all weather lifeboats.
“The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s emergency towing vessel, ETV Herakles, was also sent to assist the vessel and an industry stand by vessel Vos Hera also attended.
“The ten crew members remain on board and pumps were transferred on board the Skog by the coastguard helicopter. The vessel has taken a tow line from the ETV Herakles and will be taken to port for repairs.”
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