A salvage operation to save a tug containing 200 tonnes of diesel from sinking off the coast of Devon is "going well". Engineers and seaman are now onboard the Christos 22 and are pumping water from it. Divers have also been deployed to inspect and repair the hull of the damaged vessel. The tug, which was travelling from Germany to Turkey, was damaged by a vessel it was towing as it tried to anchor a mile off Hope's Nose in Torbay on Sunday night. Christos 22 had pulled into the coastline in order to check a problem with the tow when it was hit and began taking on water rapidly. The Moto Vessel Emsstrom, the decommissioned vessel being towed by the tug, became separated but has now been secured. A total of eight crew members were rescued after the alarm was raised. A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: "The pumping out of water continues to go well. The situation is more stable and it was confirmed at first light that there is no report of pollution. "Salvors are onboard the tug Christos XXII, pumping operations continue to go well. Divers now deployed to inspect and repair." A Brixham Coastguard spokesman said: "The problem is this is happening quite close to shore and if this boat sinks there could be a big pollution problem. "There is a lot of diesel on the boat, and there's a good chance the diesel would leak if it sinks. It would contaminate the local beaches - all this part of the coast is a holiday coastline. It is also a fishing area and would impact on the local birds and wildlife." He added that if the boat cannot be saved the Royal Navy ships will instead begin the "difficult" task of pumping diesel out of the water. | 
