Container Vessel Runs Aground Off Australia

An Indian-registered container vessel has run aground west of Melbourne in stormy weather but there is no immediate risk of pollution, an Australian maritime official said.

The 47,349 dwt Devprayag had been anchored off Portland harbor waiting to load woodchips.

A spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said tugs had been sent from Melbourne to refloat the ship.

"The ship is sitting on sand, a beach area," the spokesman said. "There isn't any pollution that we're aware of, although we know the ship is carrying about 960 tons of fuel oil."