Newcastle Port Corporation chief executive Gary Webb said initial indications showed a breach in what is known as the double bottom space, which was likely caused as the vessel was pushed across a reef.

“The space has taken in water but there is no oil leakage,” he said.

Webb said a salvage tug boat, the Woona, sailed into port this morning as part of the equipment set arriving in Newcastle from national and international locations.

“A second tug, Keera, is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday as part of the plans to safely float the Pasha Bulker off Nobbys Beach,” he said.

Aerial surveillance flights of the vessel during the past 72 hours have found no visible pollution near the ship, indicating the second internal hull has not been damaged.

Webb said the salvage crew is now concentrating on transferring fuel oil from tanks near the bottom of the vessel to tanks near the top of the hull.

The Newcastle Port Corporation said today that no attempt would be made to move Pasha Bulker until at least Wednesday.

The Pasha Bulker was beached at Nobbys Beach just before 10am on Friday, June 8, during gale force winds and high seas.

The 22-member crew were safely airlifted off the vessel the same day.