The 3,000-dwt general cargoship Rhodanus (built 1998) has been successfully refloated without causing a major pollution incident at the nearby Bonifacio nature reserve on the holiday island of Corsica.

Salvage company Smit completed the operation and no leakages have been detected from the vessel, which grounded last week.

The successful refloating and pollution containment operation will come as a relief to British Marine, a part of the QBE group, which insured the vessel.