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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ferry runs aground at Blackpool | Ferry runs aground at Blackpool |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A roll-on roll-off ferry which ran into trouble in high winds in the Irish Sea has run aground at Blackpool. | A roll-on roll-off ferry which ran into trouble in high winds in the Irish Sea has run aground at Blackpool. |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 14 people were airlifted to safety from the Riverdance, after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather. | The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 14 people were airlifted to safety from the Riverdance, after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather. |
| The remaining nine crew members were with the ferry when it ran aground on the north shore of Blackpool beach. | |
| An RNLI spokesman said rescue teams were waiting for high tide at 0600 GMT to see if the vessel could be | |
| refloated. | |
| Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the Riverdance at 1943 GMT. | |
| Three helicopters - one from the navy, one from the RAF and one from the coastguard - as well as RNLI lifeboats were sent to the scene. | |
| The Irish Coast Guard also sent a helicopter as back-up. | |
| The Riverdance had been sailing from Warrenpoint in County Down to Heysham in Lancashire when it got into difficulties in 7m waves. | The Riverdance had been sailing from Warrenpoint in County Down to Heysham in Lancashire when it got into difficulties in 7m waves. |
| 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 it is a dynamic situation, depending on the weather." | "Apparently the initial cause of the vessel developing a list was the cargo trucks and trailers shifting. Obviously those are still moving about and it is a dynamic situation, depending on the weather." |
| 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 got into trouble approximately eight miles west of Fleetwood, Lancashire, in the Irish Sea. | The Riverdance 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. |
| 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. |