An offshore oil platform is adrift off the coast of Angus with 33 people aboard.
The Safe Bristolia was being towed across the North Sea to Poland when it broke free 75 miles off the coast of Montrose.
The owners of the 588-bed accommodation module, which is usually moored to the ocean floor by eight anchors, hope to get it back under tow on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Norway-based Prosafe told STV: “The Safe Bristolia was being relocated when the towing line parted at 7.46am.
“The marine crew onboard are all accounted for and are preparing for the recovery operation.
“The Safe Bristolia is a semi-submersible accommodation vessel, which when in operation is moored by eight anchors.
“We are monitoring the situation continuously and can if necessary drop one or more anchors to stop further drifting.
“However, since the vessel is in open water east of Scotland and the original tow vessel is still in attendance, it is more convenient to wait and try to re-establish the tow.
“Prosafe have secured a second anchor handling vessel that is currently en route to support the recovery operation.
“Weather conditions are gradually improving and we estimate that we will attempt to re-establish the tow on Tuesday.”