The ship is being cleared of pollutants including diesel

The 1,846-tonne RMS Mulheim was travelling from Cork to Lubeck, Germany, when she ran aground on Saturday.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency says there is no practical way to move the ship, which would be "left to the mercy of the seas".

But Vicky Garner, campaign director of Surfers Against Sewage, said salvage companies had told her the vessel could be dismantled and sold for scrap.

She said: "You would not leave a crashed lorry across a road, so we don't see why you should leave a ship on a beach if it can be carried away.

Salvagers inspect hull damage

"It will rust away and bits and pieces can float off, causing a hazard to shipping, fishing and people on beaches."

She added: "It will probably be expensive to move, but the environment could suffer for years.

"We believe the owners should be responsible for removing the vessel as any pollution should be cleared by the polluter."

Work is being carried out to clear the Mulheim of pollutants, paints and diesel by Wednesday.

It is then hoped that work will begin to salvage more than 2,000 tonnes of shredded plastic from its hold.

Donald MacDonald, counter-pollution and salvage officer for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said the ship would then be left where it was.

He said: "We are doing as much as possible to protect the environment and get as much off her in the time we have got.

"But there's no way we can move her and she will be left to the mercy of the seas."