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Air rescue for ferry travellers Air rescue for ferry travellers
(20 minutes later)
Passengers and crew are being airlifted from a ferry in the Irish Sea after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather.Passengers and crew are being airlifted from a ferry in the Irish Sea after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather.
Four passengers and 19 crew are being removed after Liverpool coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT as it battled 7m waves. Four passengers and 19 crew are being removed after Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT as it battled 7m waves.
The Riverdance, which sails from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham in Lancashire, is listing to 60 degrees after its cargo shifted. The Riverdance, which was sailing from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham in Lancashire, is listing to 60 degrees after its cargo shifted.
Royal Navy and RAF Sea King helicopters are involved in the rescue.Royal Navy and RAF Sea King helicopters are involved in the rescue.
They have been drafted in from Prestwick and north Wales.They have been drafted in from Prestwick and north Wales.
There is currently one helicopter on scene beginning to winch people off the stricken vessel - two other helicopters are expected shortly, one from Prestwick and another from Dublin Coastguard.There is currently one helicopter on scene beginning to winch people off the stricken vessel - two other helicopters are expected shortly, one from Prestwick and another from Dublin Coastguard.
Horrible weatherHorrible weather
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said that conditions may hamper the rescue attempt. RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said that conditions could hamper the rescue attempt.
"The Sea King can take up to maybe eighteen over water."The Sea King can take up to maybe eighteen over water.
"Under these conditions it may well be less, it may need maybe two goes to get all twenty-three off."Under these conditions it may well be less, it may need maybe two goes to get all twenty-three off.
"Its just a question of we will do that as fast and as safe as we can and its really now down to what we can manage to do in the time we have." "It's just a question of we will do that as fast and as safe as we can and it's really now down to what we can manage to do in the time we have."
Two RNLI lifeboats are also there, as is the Steersman merchant vessel.Two RNLI lifeboats are also there, as is the Steersman merchant vessel.
According to reports the weather conditions are "horrible" and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry.According to reports the weather conditions are "horrible" and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry.
Jim Paton from Holyhead Coastguard said: "It's extremely difficult to assess it. At the moment it's very rough.
"Apparently the initial cause of the vessel developing a list was the cargo trucks and trailers shifting. Obviously those are still moving about and is a dynamic situation, depending on the weather et cetera."
'Major incident''Major incident'
The Riverdance - a roll-on-roll-off ferry - got into trouble approximately eight miles west of Fleetwood, Lancashire, in the Irish Sea.The Riverdance - a roll-on-roll-off ferry - got into trouble approximately eight miles west of Fleetwood, Lancashire, in the Irish Sea.
Liverpool Coastguard are treating the rescue as a major incident. There are no reports of anyone injured or missing at present.Liverpool Coastguard are treating the rescue as a major incident. There are no reports of anyone injured or missing at present.
However, the coastguard is not sure whether the ferry will capsize and says it is in a precarious position.However, the coastguard is not sure whether the ferry will capsize and says it is in a precarious position.
Tony Redding, a spokesman for Seatruck Ferries which owns the vessel, said the ship's master ordered the evacuation as a precaution. Tony Redding, a spokesman for Seatruck Ferries which owns the vessel, said the ship's master ordered the evacuation as a precaution but that some of the crew were planning to stay on board to do all they could to stop the vessel from sinking.
It is believed that all those airlifted from the ferry will be taken to Blackpool Airport.It is believed that all those airlifted from the ferry will be taken to Blackpool Airport.