Environmentalists from several countries are trying to put together a rescue of sea birds after a Greek-owned Maltese registered ship ran aground and broke in half off Nightingale Island in the South Atlantic.

The bulk-carrier Oliva was laden with about 64,000 tons of soya beans and 1,500 tons of heavy fuel oil.

It ran aground on Wednesday when on its way from Brazil to the Far East.

None of the ship’s 22 crew was injured. Fuel oil from the ship is reported to have affected thousands of sea birds and created an 'environmental nightmare'.

A tug boat is near the striken ship as officials discuss how to remove its remaining oil.

The Tristan da Cunha island group, where the incident took place, is British territory.

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