Bad weather is hampering recovery efforts of the British Valour , the stricken oil tanker that was left disabled 92 miles to the southeast of the Island on Sunday evening.

The 1,127 foot long vessel carrying 300,000 tones (2.2 million barrels) of North Sea Crude Oil suffered engine failure and has been at the mercy of the wind and waves since then.

An ex-US Navy tug boat, the Powhatan was expected to arrive yesterday afternoon to assist in the repair operation, but poor weather means it is now likely to arrive at some time today.

An approaching front is expected to bring unsettled weather and increased winds to the area over the next few days, and ocean swells may well be above 20 feet. Yesterday the tanker was reported as being approximately 130 miles southeast of Bermuda.

Manager of the Operational Integrity Team for BP Shipping, Bob Flemming spoke with The Royal Gazette yesterday and gave an update of repair efforts.

Mr. Flemming said the on board investigation had been completed by the crew, and they now know that the engine suffered piston failure.

Mr. Flemming is one of a team of approximately 18 people who will assist in the repair operation.

Several of the team are already on the Island, but he said that repair fitters, technicians and spare parts were still en route to the Island.

He said that due to the poor weather conditions, they did not expect to mobilise the repair mission until Saturday at the earliest.

The intention is to fix the engine at sea after the tug boat has transported all the people and equipment out to the ship.

Mr. Flemming said the fall back plan is to retain the services of the tug boat which is capable of towing the ship into port.

Mr. Flemming also said that representatives from the Lloyds Register of Shipping would be overseeing the repairs and ensuring that they are technically acceptable.

Bermuda is expecting a thunderstorm to hit early this morning and the small craft warning is likely to stay in place both today and tomorrow.

The Bermuda Weather Service reported last night that the spring storm moving up the US east coast will cross the Island today, bringing heavy rain, showers and blustery winds.

The bad weather will persist for most of the day, and through tomorrow, but an improvement is expected by Saturday.

Meteorologist Elizabeth Nelson said: "We are experiencing our usual March weather, which includes winter storms passing north of us, bringing high winds due to the deep low pressure, rain and thunderstorms as the frontal systems cross the Island.

"It will be followed by cold days with blustery showers in the cold air dragged down from the north. This is, in fact, a very average Bermuda spring.'' The Bermuda Weather Service has issued a thunderstorm advisory for this morning.