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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Air rescue for ferry travellers | Air rescue for ferry travellers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The crew of a ferry in the Irish Sea are being airlifted to safety after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather. | The crew of a ferry in the Irish Sea are being airlifted to safety after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather. |
| Four passengers and four crew members have so far been rescued after Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT. | Four passengers and four crew members have so far been rescued after Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT. |
| The Riverdance, which was sailing from Warrenpoint in County Down to Heysham in Lancashire, is listing to 60 degrees after its cargo shifted. | |
| Three helicopters - two RAF and one from the coastguard - are at the scene. | Three helicopters - two RAF and one from the coastguard - are at the scene. |
| The Irish Coast Guard has also sent a helicopter as back-up. | |
| 'Treacherous' conditions | 'Treacherous' conditions |
| The ship which crosses the Irish Sea twice a day is battling 7m waves and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry. | The ship which crosses the Irish Sea twice a day is battling 7m waves and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry. |
| The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas John Matthews, RNLI | The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas John Matthews, RNLI |
| Jim Paton from Holyhead Coastguard said: "It's extremely difficult to assess it. At the moment it's very rough. | 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." | "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." |
| John Matthews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution added: "The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas." | John Matthews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution added: "The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas." |
| 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 but that some of the crew were planning to stay on board to do all they could to stop the vessel from sinking. | 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. |
| John Matthews, from Fleetwood RNLI, said the rescue was progressing in a very "calm, professional manner" and that as the vessel was in shallow water, it was unlikely to sink. | John Matthews, from Fleetwood RNLI, said the rescue was progressing in a very "calm, professional manner" and that as the vessel was in shallow water, it was unlikely to sink. |
| He added that instead, it was likely to become stranded on a sand bank or come aground at Blackpool. | He added that instead, it was likely to become stranded on a sand bank or come aground at Blackpool. |
| The Riverdance is currently only two or three miles off the coast, and heading towards the seaside resort's north pier. | The Riverdance is currently only two or three miles off the coast, and heading towards the seaside resort's north pier. |
| Those airlifted from the ferry are being taken to Blackpool Airport to recover. | Those airlifted from the ferry are being taken to Blackpool Airport to recover. |