M/V Riverdance Aground at Blackpool Beach

[Kam]

For those who have been following the story of the Riverdance I came across a scary video on Youtube. She’s most of the way over on her side at low tide and people are out walking around under her keel! One good wave or a shift of the cargo that’s hanging off the deck on the other side and she could easily shift back on her keel...

Crazy...

More about this story at:

www.cargolaw.com/2008nightmare_riverdance.html

[Mill Bay]

Blackpool ferry staying put!
THERE is no hope of moving the beached ferry Riverdance off Blackpool's beach this week.

Salvage workers had been expecting to refloat the ferry during high tides in the next few days.

But Coastguard officials today admitted the 6,000 ton vessel is here to stay – as its condition is too poor for the operation to take place.

A spokesman said: "The operation to refloat the Riverdance will certainly not be taking place this week.

"Ongoing work on the vessel means the salvage team will not be in a position to carry out the procedure for at least two weeks."

Coastguard officials are working to ensure the public safety as they are anticipating large crowds when the refloating does take place.

A spokesman said: "An outline traffic management plan is being discussed between Lancashire Police and the local authorities for the refloating operation.

"A number of road closures and restrictions will be put in place at that time and the plan will be implemented for the period covering the refloat."

The vessel, which was en-route from Northern Ireland to Heysham when it was struck by a freak wave earlier this month, remains in a precarious position on the sands between Anchorsholme and Cleveleys.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "The main cargo deck, lower hold, engine room and steering gear room are currently interconnected and therefore flood with the tide.

"The watertight integrity of the hull is subject to further investigation by salvors."

Over the weekend fuel and oil continued to be removed from the Seatruck ferry and the most vulnerable tanks are now empty.

Technicians working to pump oil off the ship have been assisted by the severe list, which has made the tanks easier to access.

Ballast

Operations will now concentrate to stabilise the vessel by making the hull watertight and transferring water ballast to reduce the list.

Salvage teams are also continuing to remove lorries from the main deck of the Riverdance and the public are being urged to stay away from the wreck.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "Work continues on the further removal of a number of trailers from the main deck, but efforts are being hampered by the tide levels at low water which is restricting the safe working time on scene."

The full article contains 396 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.Last Updated: 19 February 2008 8:47 AM

Click here to see our Riverdance picture gallery - updated daily
www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/gallery_rd_fer/

[Kam]

wow.. she's totaly over on her side now.. I doubt they will be able to float her out now. Likely have to be cut up on the beach..

sad...

www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/gallery_rd_fer/

[yardobserver]

Last week SEATRUCK, the owner of M/V Riverdance, has ordered 4 new RoRo-ferries from FSG.

[Kam]

Looks like the Riverdance is being cut up now...

Pictures at: www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/gallery_rd_fer/

[Kam]

Not much left of the Riverdance now. I would guess another week or two will finish her off.

www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/image_galleries/riverdance_ferry_gallery.shtml

[Mill Bay]

Final bits of Riverdance ferry to be cleared off Cleveleys beach
By Tyrone Marshall
Wednesday 22nd October 2008

The last piece of the Riverdance ferry is set to be removed from the Fylde coastline in the next two to three weeks.

All visible signs of the vessel have been removed by demolition experts, but a large final piece remains buried under the sand.

The last piece of the ferry is around 50ft by 30ft, weighing 40 to 50 tonnes and is buried as deep as four or five metres in the sand.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, said: “It won’t be an easy job to remove the final piece of the ship.

“The operation should take around seven days but that will be spread over a few weeks, as contractors can only work when the tide is out, and even then strong winds can blow water back in.

“The job has taken longer than expected, but the most important aspect was to get it done properly and contractors have been very conscientious in their work.”

Mr Shaw said work had slowed down in recent weeks as workers battled with worsening weather conditions.

After removing the final piece of the vessel, contractors will use sonar scanning machines to scan the beach for any stray debris, a job that is likely to take only one or two days.

Gordon Whitaker, from the Environment Agency and chair of the Riverdance’s environment group, said: “We are very pleased with the work that has taken place and the effort that has been put in to keep the area clean.

“It is an important area for many types of wildlife so we are delighted the way the operation has been run, and we don’t envisage any environmental problems from here on in.”

The Riverdance ran aground just south of Cleveleys on January 31 after getting into difficulties while travelling between Northern Ireland and Heysham.