Salvage experts have successfully removed 28 tonnes of oil from a stranded cargo ship in the Pentland Firth ahead of an attempt to refloat the vessel.
The MV Priscilla is stuck on the Pentland Skerries off the Caithness coast after running aground last week.
The six crew are said to be safe and well and the coastguard said the 89m vessel is in a stable condition but still hard aground.
The removal of Marine Gas Oil is a precautionary measure ahead of a further attempt at refloating the ship.
Part of the ship’s 3,300 tonne cargo of fertiliser has also been offloaded onto a barge to lighten the vessel.
Pressurised air will be pumped into the ship’s tanks and an attempt will be made to refloat the vessel on high water.