With rescue boats on the scene, the Rio Madeira loses power and wanders off the coast of Narooma, NSW

A rescue attempt is underway to salvage a cargo ship with over 10,000 containers on board that is drifting out to sea.

The ship lost power Thursday night about 80 kilometers off the coast of Narooma, New South Wales.

The 286-meter-long Rio Madeira has been rescued by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) rescue vessels from Newcastle and Sydney.

A spokeswoman for AMSA informed Daily Mail Australia that the Singaporean container is not in “imminent risk” of colliding with the coast.

“AMSA has tasked the ETV Svitzer Glenrock, a specialized emergency towing vessel from Newcastle, with giving towing assistance to the MV Rio Madeira,” the spokeswoman stated.

‘Emergency generator power is available onboard, and crew members are trying to resolve the primary power problem.

The vessel and its crew are not in imminent risk of colliding with the coast.

The American Maritime Safety Agency regularly monitors the ship and receives regular updates from the ship’s company.

The rescue vessel from Newcastle will arrive at the Rio Madeira on Saturday afternoon and assist in towing the vessel.

The Rio Madeira is bigger than the Portland Bay carrier that escaped Port Botany earlier this year.

Craig Gibson, who was one of three on board during the July rescue of the Portland Bay carrier, tweeted his support for the most recent rescue mission, writing, “Go save another one, team!!”

The ship is believed to have 27 crew members.