According to WKW, professional salvors have been appointed by Evergreen to help refloat the ship, out of action since Sunday after running aground in Chesapeake Bay, US.

WKW said reports into the cause of the accident “indicate that the vessel strayed from the narrow fairway of the Chesapeake Bay during its outward passage from Baltimore and is likely to have grounded in shallow water on a predominantly muddy bottom”.

It added: “The vessel’s draught at the time of departure from Baltimore is reported to have been 13 metres whereas the average depth of the bay is approximately only 6.4 metres.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest a pilot was on board at the time.