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Bid to rescue stranded ferry crew

Press Assoc. - Thursday, January 31 10:18 pm

A rescue operation is under way after a ferry got into difficulties in high winds on the Irish Sea.

Three helicopters - two from the RAF and one from the coastguard - were scrambled to airlift 23 people from the Riverdance, 10 nautical miles off the coast of Fleetwood, Lancashire.

The ship was heading for Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland when its cargo shifted to one side, an RAF spokesman said. Mark Clark of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the vessel was listing at about 60 degrees.

Three helicopters, two from the RAF and one from the Irish coastguard in Dublin, were sent to the ferry, along with tug boats.

But Mr Clark said rescue efforts were being hampered by the bad weather. "The weather out there is horrendous at the moment," he said.

Mr Clark said: "A mayday was broadcast in the area to see if there were other vehicles nearby that could help, and some have responded. The three men that remained in the engine room were told to abandon their posts and get up on deck."

The ship is a roll-on roll-off vessel, or "ro-ro" for short. It carries cargo but is also allowed to take up to 12 passengers. Mr Clark said the estimates were the ferry was carrying around four passengers. It is not known what cargo the vessel is carrying.

A spokesman for Seatruck Ferries Limited, which operates the Riverdance, said the stricken vessel was carrying trucks and trailers from Warrenpoint to the port of Heysham in Lancashire.

Tony Redding said the ship was struck by a freak wave as it crossed the Irish Sea, and developed a significant list.

The master sent out a mayday, and as a precaution ordered all non-essential personnel to be taken off the ship, which was carrying 19 crew and four passengers.