The next stage in the salvage of the fire-damaged VLCC off Sri Lanka is set to begin after salvors removed water from its flooded engine room.

Salvors are understood to have deballested the machinery space on the 300,000-dwt New Diamond (built 2000) by transferring water to its ballast tanks, according to Indian authorities.

It has also been reported that all leaks on the ship’s hull have now been sealed following an underwater inspection by a combined dive team from the salvors as well as the Sri Lankan and Indian navies.