Wednesday 6 July 2022 07:00 AM Portland Bay cargo ship docks at Port Botany after stranded in rough sea for ... trends now
A large cargo ship that was stranded at sea for two days after it lost power has been towed safely into Port Botany, following a daring rescue mission.
The MV Portland Bay docked at Botany Bay in Sydney's south at about 2pm on Wednesday, after being assisted by four tug boats.
The Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier lost power about one kilometre off Garie Beach in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, on Monday morning leaving 21 crew members stranded in massive seas.
The ship started drifting towards the cliffs, sparking fears of a maritime disaster, with the Port Authority of NSW dispatching three tug boats to stop the ship and haul it far offshore.
The MV Portland Bay has finally returned to shore after it was stranded at sea for two days off the coast of Sydney
The large bulk carrier docked at Port Botany at about 2pm on Wednesday, with all 21 crew on board safe
Sydneysiders are seen watching on as the large vessel comes in to berth
But the combination of wild weather and 11-metre swells forced the towlines to snap, undoing rescue efforts and sending the ship floating towards shore again.
After a second night on Tuesday in stormy seas anchored off Cronulla and held in place by two tugs, the ship was directed to berth at Port Botany on Wednesday.
The vessel was told by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority it needed to dock before more severe weather hit on Thursday.
Marine pilots had boarded the ship earlier on Wednesday to assess it was safe for it to dock.
Crew on board the ship spent two nights on stormy seas after the ship lost power on Monday morning
Efforts to take stranded cargo ship Portland Bay (pictured) back out to sea after it lost power stalled on Tuesday
Authorities confirmed all 21 crew on board returned safely to shore.
Deputy secretary of the Sydney Branch of the Maritime Union, Paul Garrett, described the tugboat crews as 'heroes'.
'I think the most impressive thing is, when most
