[Dargo]

A start may be made today on towing the cargo ship near the Wadden Islands, but a time has not yet been set, Rijkswaterstaat said. The ship, the Fremantle Highway, is now north of Terschelling. The plan is for the vessel to be towed to a safer, temporary location about 16 kilometres north of Schiermonnikoog. The vessel will then be at a greater distance from shipping traffic. It will also be better sheltered in view of weather conditions. The operation is likely to take around 12 to 14 hours. According to the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, the timing of the move depends, among other things, on smoke development, weather forecasts, tides and currents.

Once the operation starts, the stability of the ship will be "continuously monitored", Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Harbers wrote to the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the oil-fighting vessel Arca will be deployed, and the Coast Guard will supervise shipping. According to Harbers, this is "a challenging task". Nevertheless, "no direct consequences for the Wadden Islands, its inhabitants and nature are expected". The mayor of Schiermonnikoog said on Twitter to "keep a finger on the pulse" and "hold our hearts". Once the Fremantle Highway is at its new, temporary location, the intention is that the ship will then be towed to a "port to be determined", Harbers writes. That will only be possible if the situation on board the ship allows it.