New plan for Riverdance removal to be presented next week

Thursday 13 March 2008 14:31
Maritime And Coastguard Agency (National)

New plan for Riverdance removal to be presented next week


Late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning the stranded Ro-Ro ferry `Riverdance' was hit by 78 knot winds, and as a consequence sustained heavy damage resulting in a 100 degree list. She is also partly sinking into the soft and shifting sand locally.

Plans to reduce the list using internal buoyancy and tidal effects have now been abandoned. Salvors are assessing the situation and are in discussion with the owners and insurers of the vessel.

A revised outline plan containing the options for the removal of the vessel will now be presented to Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, (SOSREP) for his consideration early next week.

Hugh Shaw said

"The owner's legal representatives have also had a preliminary discussion with him and have given their reassurance that their objective of removing the vessel in an environmentally friendly and timely manner remains paramount.

"I look forward to receiving a revised outline plan with options early next week for my consideration.

"In the interim the salvors will make every effort to maintain the integrity of the vessel. A full assessment of the damage is still ongoing. Fortunately, and as a consequence of the earlier bunker removal there have been no reports of pollution from the vessel."

Early evening on Thursday 31 January 2008 the 6,041 GT RO-RO 'Riverdance', on passage from Warren Point to Heysham, reported that she had developed a 40 degree list and was drifting towards the Lancashire coast.

The vessel subsequently grounded on North Shore, Blackpool. Plans to reduce the list and to refloat the vessel have been continually hampered by storm force winds and high seas.

Contractors will continue to clear cargo or debris washed ashore from the vessel. As access to the main deck has now been breached by the heavy seas it is likely that this work will increase over the next week.

The Environment Group continues to monitor and risk assess the situation.