Salvors have finally managed to board the fire-damaged New Shipping VLCC off the coast of Sri Lanka, the country’s coastguard has confirmed.

An initial team of three were able to board the 300,000-dwt New Diamond (built 2000) for an initial inspection before being joined by another six-man team.

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard said the crude aboard the vessel “was now safe” and that a “colossal maritime disaster” had been averted.