Topic: Irish Sea Ro - Ro Ferry runs aground off Blackpool (Read 17274 times)

funtimefrankie · « **Reply #50 on:** February 19, 2008, 06:57:44 pm »

I think they need low water to work on the ship

Press Notice No: 50/08
Monday, February 18, 2008
Posted 11:47 GMT

http://www.mcga.gov.uk

RIVERDANCE - UPDATE

The Ro Ro ferry 6,041 ton `Riverdance still remains firmly aground on the North Shore at Blackpool. The vessel still remains in a precarious position. Currently the vessel is maintaining a significant list to starboard. The main cargo deck, lower hold, engine room and steering gear room are currently interconnected and therefore flood with the tide and the watertight integrity of the hull is subject to further investigation by salvors.

The salvage control unit, chaired by Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of States Representative in Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) recently reported that over the past weekend all bunker fuels have been successfully removed from the most vulnerable tanks. Operations will now concentrate on stabilising the vessel by making the hull watertight and transferring water ballast to reduce the list. The severe list has made the access to the double bottom tanks much easier and safer than before.

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 Environment Group continues to monitor and risk assess the situation and are satisfied with the progress being made to date.

Additional security staff remain in place to cover the low water periods supported by HM Coastguard personnel and vehicles when the vessel presents dangers to onlookers who stray too close the site.

An outline traffic management plan is being discussed between Lancashire Police and the local authorities for the refloating operation which, due to ongoing work on board the vessel, will not take place for at least the next two weeks. 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.

Posted By: Mark Clark

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401

funtimefrankie · « **Reply #51 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:01:55 pm »

More info........

Riverdance: How refloat will happen

Published Date: 21 February 2008
Source: Blackpool Gazette
Location: Blackpool

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

By Paul Marsden
SALVAGE experts are preparing the stricken ferry Riverdance to be
refloated.
Crews working on the 6,000-ton vessel, which is beached off the coast
just south of Cleveleys, are still hopeful the ship can be refloated and
have been making it watertight ahead of an attempt to halt its alarming
list.

Work to drain 100 tonnes of intermediate fuel oil and 50 tonnes of
diesel from engines onboard the ferry has now been completed.

Click here to see Riverdance webcam

The next step of the salvage mission, which could take place this
weekend, will see water moved from one side of the ferry to another in
an attempt to return it to an 'upright' position.

Click here to see our Riverdance picture gallery - updated daily

It is now nearly three weeks since the ship became beached after being
struck by a freak wave.

Tony Redding, spokesman for the Riverdance's operator Seatruck Ferries
said: "A lot of the work going on inside the ship has been amounting to
correcting the list.

"The vents have been sealed by welding metal plates over them. Work will
then take place to rig all the pump gear.

"The list will be reduced by pumping water from the ballast tanks on the
starboard side to the port side, which is currently face up."

John Matthews, head of the Fleetwood Nautical Campus of Blackpool and
The Fylde College, said the ability to distribute the water between
tanks on opposing sides of the ferry will aid the operation.

He said: "They have done the first thing they needed to do by getting
rid of the oil and fuel.

"The ship will have double ballast tanks, which are divided down the
bottom.

"They will fill the high-sided tank, which should mean she will list
back over because the weight is in one side."

Once the list of the vessel is corrected, which may take days, then the
Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and
Intervention (SOSREP) will board the ferry with salvors to inspect the
interior.

The ship will eventually be removed from the Fylde coastline by tugs
pulling it out to sea.

Mr Redding added: "The Riverdance will be tied to either one or two tugs
by extra special synthetic cable.

"The cable is a strong as steel cable but has the advantage of being
very lightweight.

"If it is one tug which is pulling the ship it will have to be a very
large one."

Visitors to the site are being urged to stay away from the ship, which
is currently the subject of a 400m exclusion zone.

The full article contains 439 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette
newspaper.Last Updated: 21 February 2008 7:21 AM

Teams tackle Riverdance danger list

Video
View the latest video of The Riverdance

Salvage crews continue to work on the ship

By Rob Stocks
THE owners of the stricken ferry Riverdance hope to be able to stop the
vessel's dangerous list by the weekend.
Although they concede there is no hope of moving the 6,000 ton roll-on
roll-off truck ferry from the beach, just north of Cleveleys, Seatruck,
the firm which operated the ship, says work to right her could take
place before Monday.

Salvage crews continue to work on the ship and have almost completed the
task of draining fuel oil and diesel onboard.

Click here to see Riverdance webcam

A seatruck spokesman said: "We are at a very important stage.

"At the weekend we will begin to pump water from the starboard to the
port side of the Riverdance.

Click here to see our Riverdance picture gallery - updated daily

"This should hopefully allow us to correct the list."

Since being beached at Blackpool, after being struck by a freak wave
en-route from Northern Ireland to Heysham, the Riverdance has been
sitting at an increasingly precarious angle in the sand.

The list has made work difficult for salvage crews working to save the
ship.

A Seatruck spokesman said: "Because of the list, the angle at which the
ship is leaning, it is very difficult to work onboard.

"We are trying to do as much as possible from the sands.

"That means we are only able to work at low tide which makes progress
slow."

The Coastguard has indicated it could be two weeksbefore an operation
takes place to float the Riverdance off the beach.

Seatruck has confirmed that timescale.

Visitors to the site continue to be urged to stay away from the ship,
and remain outside a 400m exclusion zone.

Trucks continue to be removed from the deck of the ship as salvage
workers bid to gain better access to the structure.

The Seatruck spokesman added: "There is one particular vehicle they are
eager to move.

"That is to do with gaining access to a specific part of the ship.

"The easier access is, the easier the salvage job becomes."

Visitors on the promenade at Anchorshome watching the recovery operation
were sceptical of the timescale.

Eddie Bank, a tourist from Todmorden, said: "I'd be surprised if they
could get it upright this weekend.

"Two weeks seems very quick.

"But I'm sure they have done these things before and know better than
us."

The full article contains 399 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette
newspaper.Last Updated: 20 February 2008 9:28 AM

justboatonic · « **Reply #52 on:** February 24, 2008, 10:02:09 pm »

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/High-tide-hits-ferry-and.3807847.jp

High tide hits ferry and delays salvage

The Riverdance

THE Riverdance is here to stay ... for a couple more weeks at least.
Plans to begin pumping water into the starboard side of the ferry this Saturday, in a bid to right it, have been delayed after the safety of the 6,000-ton vessel was put into question.

Attempts to halt the ferry's alarming list have failed as it moved a further 14 degrees following the high tide on Thursday night.

Mark Clark, spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "Originally she was listing at 58 degrees, now it's 72 degrees.

"She rolled because of the high tide and rigs being held in place by lashings have collapsed.

"It's not going to be a happy situation for at least a couple of weeks while salvage crews clear the inside."

Work to drain 100 tons of intermediate fuel oil and 50 tons of diesel from engines on board has now been completed but experts are saying it will take another couple of weeks before the ferry is ready to consider for refloating.

How Riverdance refloat will happen

Once the list of the vessel is corrected, the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) will board the ferry with salvors to inspect the interior.

It is now three weeks since the ferry became beached after being struck by a freak wave but eventually it will be removed from the Fylde coastline by tugs pulling it out to sea.

Large crowds have been drawn to the ship in recent weeks, although a strict exclusion zone has been put in place to prevent sightseers getting too close.

The Riverdance has now been in place for three weeks after being hit by a freak wave on the night of February 1, when 23 passengers and crew were winched to safety by an RAF crew.

Wouldnt surprise me if she becomes a total wreck.

Bryan Young · « **Reply #53 on:** February 24, 2008, 11:43:21 pm »

"freak" wave again?

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #54 on:** February 24, 2008, 11:47:42 pm »

They are going to have some problems now that it's practically lying on its side.

Stavros · « **Reply #55 on:** February 24, 2008, 11:54:07 pm »

Big Trolley Jack seems to spring to mind

Satvros

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #56 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:05:07 am »

Or 50,000 seagulls tethered to the high side.

MikeK · « **Reply #57 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:27:04 am »

Here's a couple of good photos I've copied from another forum, taken by a member there. I hope I have not broken any rules by doing this ! ::)

http://trampics.fotopic.net/p48592390.html
http://trampics.fotopic.net/p48592380.html

Mike

malcolmfrary · « **Reply #58 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:36:52 pm »

Quote from: Bryan Young on February 24, 2008, 11:43:21 pm

"freak" wave again?

No, Bryan, just a high tide with some unfavourable wind behind it. This is not a forgiving coast, despite appearances.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #59 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:47:14 pm »

She seems to be digging herself in.

taxi · « **Reply #60 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:51:30 pm »

Is it dooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmed?

Colin H · « **Reply #61 on:** February 25, 2008, 03:14:23 pm »

Having looked at the photo's I cannot see how that can be described as `A LIST` it's laying on its side.

Good luck to the salver's.

Colin H.

Bryan Young · « **Reply #62 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:34:26 pm »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on February 25, 2008, 12:05:07 am

Or 50,000 seagulls tethered to the high side.

Nice to see some sideways thinking.

justboatonic · « **Reply #63 on:** February 26, 2008, 08:51:12 pm »

Incredibly, 8 people tried to get aboard the ship recently. Obviously not for the sightseeing either! Just what is it with some people?

See here for more pics

http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/gallery_rd_fer/

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #64 on:** February 26, 2008, 08:58:45 pm »

Definitely in a bad way now. Total constructive loss I'd guess.

MikeK · « **Reply #65 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:42:56 am »

Here's a link to another (sad) picture

http://flickr.com/photos/ceefax55/2294071750/sizes/l/

Mike

Faraday's Cage · « **Reply #66 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:58:07 am »

Is it me or do the props and one remaining rudder look rather small for the size of the hull ?

MikeK · « **Reply #67 on:** February 27, 2008, 09:18:29 am »

No the prop blades are snapped and big chunks of the rudders also. They are plainly visible on one of the picture links elsewhere, but cannot remember which.
Unless you mean in general for a ship that size, in which case they look the same size(ish) to the several ro ro's I sailed on.

Mike

Faraday's Cage · « **Reply #68 on:** February 27, 2008, 12:13:41 pm »

Thanks Mike,

Yeah, thinking about it, there must have been quite a bit bit of damage to both the props and rudders due to the circumstances of the grounding.

justboatonic · « **Reply #69 on:** March 01, 2008, 09:27:10 pm »

Some of you may find this interesting. Its a link about shipwrecks on the Fylde Coast including Riverdance.

http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/shipwreck/

justboatonic · « **Reply #70 on:** March 13, 2008, 08:59:09 pm »

Looks like its all over now for Riverdance. Plans to try and right the vessel appear to have been abandoned and now they are talking about other 'options.'

Sounds like they will cut her up where she is.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-ferry-listing-at-100.3877587.jp

THE STRICKEN ferry Riverdance is now listing at 100 degrees off the coast of Cleveleys after being battered by heavy winds.
The vessel suffered heavy damage after being buffeted by 90 miles an hour winds on Wednesday.

Plans to reduce the list by using internal buoyancy and tidal effects have now been abandoned.

Salvors are now assessing the situation and are in discussion with the owners and insurers of the vessel.

A revised plan containing options for the removal of the vessel will now be presented to Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of States Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), for his consideration early next week.

Mr Shaw said: "The owners of the ship have given their reassurance that their objective of removing the vessel in an environmentally friendly and timely manner remains paramount.

"Contractors will continue to clear cargo or debris washed ashore from the vessel.

"As access to the main deck has now been breached by the heavy seas it is likely that this work will increase over the next week."

tigertiger · « **Reply #71 on:** March 14, 2008, 01:26:16 am »

I feel sorry for the owners and the salvage guys who must have dreaded every weather report over the last few weeks.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #72 on:** March 14, 2008, 06:44:47 pm »

Re the comments about "Freak" waves - look at this one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7290000/newsid_7297300/7297344.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Bryan Young · « **Reply #73 on:** March 14, 2008, 08:11:32 pm »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on March 14, 2008, 06:44:47 pm

Re the comments about "Freak" waves - look at this one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7290000/newsid_7297300/7297344.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

So really, what is "freak" about this one? Unusual perhaps, but to call everything the slightest bit out of the ordinary "freak" debases both the word and its proper use. Not that I wish to argue either the point or with you. Bryan.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #74 on:** March 14, 2008, 08:35:43 pm »

Just quoting the report Bryan, not my personal view. The media prefer "freaks" to "slightly unusual phenomenons"!

News:

Author Topic: Irish Sea Ro - Ro Ferry runs aground off Blackpool (Read 17274 times)

Stavros

taxi