The vessel was refloated and towed to Malta, where sound cargo was discharged. In some cases the vessels are firmly locked together and cannot be separated until salvage experts have decided that it is safe to do so. The immediate concerns include the potential for structural failure and serious pollution. The salvage priorities include damage assessment and the speedy completion of temporary patching and other emergency repairs, in readiness for a tow to a safe haven. Twenty-two of the Nagasaki Spirit's crew of 24 died in a severe fire following a collision in the early 1990s.
Some groundings occur in areas of great environmental sensitivity.
The salvage team arriving at the scene must make a rapid assessment of the casualty's condition and the potential for refloating without further hull damage and loss of cargo. In some instances, it is necessary to discharge part or all of the cargo, in order to free the ship. A forecast deterioration in the weather can have a major influence on the salvage strategy adopted. However, every year salvage tugs go to the assistance of vessels left helpless after a major failure of propulsion or steering systems. During early 1999, for example, a Chinese salvage team reacted when the tanker Dan Chi, laden with 38,830 tonnes of crude oil, reported a broken propeller shaft during a voyage from South Korea to Shanghai.