A bulk carrier stranded off the coast of Sydney has drifted further north after a tug boat cable snapped overnight.
The MV Portland Bay lost power on Monday morning after leaving Port Kembla, near Wollongong, and had been drifting towards rocks off the Royal National Park.
Tugboats were sent to help tow the boat to deeper water but New South Wales Port Authority CEO Phillip Holliday said poor conditions overnight thwarted rescue efforts.
"We were attempting to tow the vessel offshore but unfortunately the bad weather took a turn which meant the line from the tug to the ship snapped in the bad weather.
"So the vessel now has moved further north.
'Atrocious' weather conditions
The vessel is currently 1.2 nautical miles off the coast of Port Botany.
Mr Holliday said one tug remained attached to the ship, another was nearby and a specialist tug had been deployed from Newcastle to assist.
A severe weather warning was in place for damaging surf and Mr Holliday said it could be another 24 hours before the ship can be towed in to Port Botany.
"The conditions are really quite atrocious out there, so we'll wait for the weather to ease, and it might be at least Wednesday before that occurs," he said.
"The crew of the ship itself and the crews of the tugboats are doing an outstanding job in very difficult conditions.
Twenty-one crew remain on board the ship after efforts to evacuate them by helicopter were aborted on Monday due to the dangerous weather conditions.
Late on Monday, the ship's master asked to keep them on board as he believed he could repair the engine failure once it was further out to sea.
"We're dealing with a situation that could get a lot worse, but it's under control at the moment," he said.
Tugboat crews 'heroes'
The deputy secretary of the Sydney Branch of the Maritime Union, Paul Garrett, labelled the tugboat crews heroes for braving the treacherous conditions on the water.
"I think the most impressive thing is, when most people head for shelter, our members are jumping on board the boat to head out to sea and do their best.
"They've been out there now for nearly 24 hours getting thrown around, so it's pretty full on," Mr Garrett said.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet similarly described the work of personnel on board the tugboats overnight as "heroic" and "incredibly impressive".
"They worked through the night to ensure that the bulk carrier was in a stable and anchored position," he said.
Mr Perrottet said although more help was on the way, they were not out of the woods.
"It's far from over," he said.
It is hoped the ship can be towed in to Port Botany once conditions ease, possibly on Wednesday.
