A coastal freighter has been towed to safety after running aground in Golden Bay, near Nelson.

The Tasman District Council is on standby, as the threat of an oil spill from the Antatoki is considered a real possibility.

Regulatory Services Coordinator Graham Carradus says the freighter was towed off the sandbar at half past one this afternoon.

Divers will inspect the hull to see if there is any damage that would stop the ship from getting back into port under its own steam.

Mr Carradus says there is a great deal of nervousness over the 19 tonnes of diesel in the ship’s fuel tanks.