Salvors will shortly be asked to bid to remove the burnt-out hull of the containership SSL Kolkata close to the environmentally sensitive ­Indian Sundarbans — a World Heritage site in West Bengal.

The 1,118-teu vessel (built 2006), which was wrecked by a huge explosion and fire, has broken its back and is aground, precariously balanced on a reef.

It is understood the hull insurers have not yet declared it a constructive total loss, although the owner, India’s Shreyas