PILOTS monitoring the stricken Hoegh Osaka in the Solent have been sent back to land as 75mph gales threaten to bear down on the region.

The pilots have been monitoring the car transporter from tugs holding it in position off the Isle of Wight after it was deliberately ran aground at nearby Bramble Bank.

Now the Port of Southampton is considering withdrawing them temporarily as forecast high winds bringing torrential rain will make conditions too dangerous for them.

Salvage teams have also withdrawn from the vessel today, and will return when weather improves but in the mean time are continuing to work on the rescue plan from land.

A helicopter is expected to be drafted in to transport salvage teams to and from the vessel when weather improves, while another tug is being prepared to hold the ship more securely in place.

It comes as salvors step up operations to right the 51,000 tonne vessel by connecting a second pump to continue urgently extracting 3,000 tonnes of water from the hold and reduce its 52 degrees listing.

It follows a turbulent weekend when the one of two tugs holding the vessel in place has to be removed from her position after it collided with the larger ship during poor weather.

The vessel is being held at Alpha Anchorage after being towed two miles east from its original position on Bramble Bank off East Cowes.

Today the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it is in urgent talks with salvors Svitzer over whether the pilots - who are currently watching the vessel on a 24 hour rota - are entirely necessary and whether to temporarily remove them.

A MCA statement said: “The port is considering taking the pilot off the scene because the worsening weather will make it harder to relieve them at the end of shift, subject to discussion with the salvors.

“Vessel Traffic System contact will be maintained and, if necessary, a pilot could be returned to the scene.”

Yesterday salvors spent nearly two hours pumping out water successfully without suffering a discharge any of a thin film of oil that has collected and is being stored on board for later disposal.

They also checked the vessel's ballast system and teams are preparing to rig another pump to the lower hold to pump into the ship's tanks and overboard.

But the MCA warned the mission is “highly dependent” on weather with winds and rain battering the region through today and tomorrow and peaking at 6pm.

The statement continued: “Although it is still some way off, plans for the vessel's return to dock continue, to ensure the discharge of cargo is done safely and access policed and restricted as appropriate.”

A spokesman for vessel owners Hoegh Autoliners praised the teams and pilots for their “heroic” efforts and added: “They've got to be aware of their own safety.

“The sheer logistics of getting on and off the vessel is causing it's own problems and we are hoping to resolve that with the helicopter.”

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the Singapore registered transporter was deliberately ran aground on Saturday, January 3, in the Solent when it started to list shortly after leaving Southampton Port.

It was on the way to Germany caring 1,400 cars which included 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles and 65 Minis, as well as 105 JCB machines.

But as the salvage operation got underway midweek the ship unexpectedly refloated itself and was towed to Alpha Anchorage away from busy shipping lanes.

The rescue operation involves working on the ship's ballast systems and pumping out 3,000 tonnes of water enabling them to right the vessel.

The Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth has put an exclusion zone into place around the ship while tugs keep it in place.