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It could be here for weeks
IT is feared it could now be weeks before salvage crews can remove the stricken ferry Riverdance from Blackpool beach.
Gale force winds and treacherous waves continued to batter the ship overnight, making it impossible for any salvage attempt.
The 6,000-ton Sea Trucks vessel has become an instant tourist attraction, with thousands yesterday flocking to see it beached just south of Cleveleys.
A 400-metre exclusion zone has now been thrown around the ship, which rammed into the shore on Thursday night after a freak wave left it without engines and the crew powerless to stop it being taken by the tide.
While the air and sea rescue teams who plucked the 23 crew and passengers to safety were today hailed heroes, salvage experts from Holland were facing their own race against time.
The ship is still intact, but there is 100 tonnes of bunker fuel and 50 tonnes of gas oil on board.
Trucks are now hanging precariously over the side of the grounded roll-on, roll-off ferry – many with their cargos shed into the sea.
So far surveillance from a pollution-sensor aircraft has revealed no sign of leakage.
Engineers from specialist salvors Smit were unable to get on board yesterday and a meeting was held with coastguards last night.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The chances of the Riverdance being removed in the next 24 hours are more unlikely than likely due to the weather conditions.
"The salvors made an initial assessment of the vessel yesterday afternoon, but due to weather conditions were unable to board the vessel itself.
"Discussions have begun regarding plans for the salvage. The Secretary of State's Representative for Salvage and Intervention has met with salvors from Smit and a salvage control unit has been established.
"A temporary exclusion zone of 400 metres has been set up around the vessel."
Patrolling
Coastguards are advising members of the public who plan to visit the site this weekend to view it from a safe distance on the Promenade and not to venture down on to the beach.
The spokesman added: "Police and Coastguards will be patrolling the area.
"All goods on board the ferry are of low value and there is no hazardous cargo.
"Any cargo which is washed up onshore will remain the property of the owners."
The truck ferry was travelling from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham when it ran into trouble at 7.30pm on Thursday.
The passengers and crew who were airlifted to safety were taken to Blackpool Airport before being bussed to a hotel in Lancaster.
Two were taken to hospital with mild hypothermia.
A meeting was last night being held between Sea Trucks management and the Riverdance's crew.
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of Sea Trucks, said the ship had been left a sitting duck in the wild seas.
He explained: "The Riverdance's engines stalled and the captain was unable to start them before the ship was struck by the wave.
"The fuel in the tanks show no sign of leaking and the vessel lost only a small amount of its cargo.
"At the moment the vessel is lurching to its starboard side, but there is no immediate risk of it toppling over."
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
