Pollution concerns about stricken cargo ferry
CONCERNS were today raised about pollution or such problems in relation to the stricken cargo ferry which ran aground last night to save it from capsizing after leaving Warrenpoint.
Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said that they needed to "find out what kind of oils were on board."
Salvage operations are expected to start later, it's also been revealed.
The Riverdance was carrying 23 passengers and crew when it was hit by a huge wave as it crossed the Irish Sea, causing it to run into difficulties off the coast of Fleetwood, Lancashire, last night.
It had left Warrenpoint for Haysham earlier and its cargo shifted causing it to start listing at 60 degrees at around 7.30pm.
A spokesman for Seatruck Ferries, which operates Riverdance, said the vessel had been carrying trucks and trailers from Warrenpoint to the lancashire port.
It's not known at this stage if the ferry has been damaged.
A rescue operation involving helicopters from the RAF, Royal Navy and Irish Coastguard last night sprang into action, as 60 mph winds raged and waves reached 30 ft in height.
The conditions were described by the RNLI, which sent lifeboats from Fleetwood and Lytham St Annes to assist, as "horrendous".
All but nine essential crew members were winched to safety when the roll-on roll-off vessel ran aground off the north shore of Blackpool beach, and the rest of those onboard were evacuated as well.
Related link:-
Dramatic airlift from stricken ferry
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
