Crew and passengers of the Irish Sea ferry Riverdance, a 6000 ton RORO Ferry are being airlifted to safety after the ferry got into difficulties in harsh weather four miles off Fleetwood.
A mayday call was received by Liverpool coastguard when the roll-on-roll-off ferry developed a 60 degree list after her cargo shifted. This list has now been reduced to 20degrees and it appears that some of the crew will remain with the ship for the time being.
Rescue helicopter 122 is on scene and rescue helicopters 177 and 116 are en route. RNLI lifeboats Lytham and Fleetwood are en route. A tanker, Steersman, is standing off the incident and providing communications assistance.
Update: 0500
The Riverdance has now run aground on the foreshore at Blackpool. The nine crew which remained with the vessel during the morning have been unable to refloat her under her own power and rescue helicopter 122 is now evacuating the last of the crew.
Tags: aground, blackpool, coastgaurd, ferry, irish sea, riverdance, rnli
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