French authorities have succeeded in separating a Cotunav ro-pax from the hull of an anchored boxship following Sunday's collision off Corsica.

The 17,900-gt Ulysse (built 1997) was freed from the 5,018-teu CSL Virginia (built 2005) on Thursday evening, the country's marine authority said, through the combined effect of wave movements and previous extrication attempts to shift the ship.

Two tugs and a navy vessel remain on site.