A BULK carrier brought into Portland Port for emergency repair work has been delayed by extreme weather conditions.

The Chinese-flagged vessel, called Hua Heng 166, with a 32,965-gross tonnage, arrived into the port last Sunday lunchtime, assisted by the tug The Maiden Castle.

It is believed the bulk carrier was travelling between Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Turkey when the damage occurred in the English Channel.

Tug driver Ted Toop attended and said the Hua Heng 166 needed emergency work after it collided with a submerged object, possibly a fallen container, in the English Channel.

He said: “It had its bow right in the water and the stern right out of the water, so it obviously needed an emergency procedure.

“They’re waiting to get divers down to put a plate on and cover the hole so they can pump out the flooding in number two hold and get it up on an even keel.”

A Portland Port spokesman: “The Hua Heng 166 arrived in Portland Harbour to undertake repairs, however delays have been incurred due to the current weather conditions.”