Experts Assess Run Aground Ship

Experts are assessing how to move a container ship which ran aground on a shoreline with nine people on board.

A tug has arrived at the scene where Lysblink Seaways became stuck off Kilchoan near Ardnamurchan Point in the Highlands at around 2am yesterday, Stornoway Coastguard said.

They will now determine how and when to move the vessel, which did not refloat at high tide.

No-one has been injured, however there has been a small leak from the vessel.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said that counter-pollution equipment has been sent to the scene, but that the risk of pollution remains low.

The 423ft vessel, believed to be carrying paper, was travelling from Belfast to Skogn in Norway when it ran aground.

The crew remain on board.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said yesterday evening: The Scottish Government is liaising with the Maritime and Coastguard agency who are working with local responders to manage the situation with the vessel 'Lysblink Seaways'.

There is currently a small leak from the ship, however the risk of pollution is low, and I am pleased counter-pollution equipment is already on the way to the site. We are monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide assistance if necessary.''

In a statement, the ship's owner DFDS said: DFDS's cargo container ship Lysblink Seaways ran aground yesterday morning near Ardnamucharn Point off the Scottish west coast. The ship is still aground and DFDS has hired salvage assistance, and salvage vessels and tugboats are currently at the scene along with salvage experts.

The grounding happened whilst the vessel was under way from Belfast to Skogn in Norway with about 50 tonnes of paper products on board. The vessel is 120 metres (394ft) long, is flying the UK flag and has a crew of nine.

No persons have been injured during the incident, and the risk of pollution is, according to the UK authorities, considered to be very low.

The salvage company and DFDS are currently working on getting the ship afloat.''