 The Riverdance is stuck fast on its side in the sand |
Salvagers have begun preparatory work on the operation to dismantle the stricken Riverdance ferry. Contractors have started working on the inside of the ship, which is grounded off Cleveleys, near Blackpool. After everything is cleared from the hull, the ship will be cut up into sections and driven away on lorries. Outlining details of the operation on Friday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was expected to take between 12 and 14 weeks. The Riverdance ran aground off the Lancashire coast in January after being hit by a freak wave as it sailed from Northern Ireland to Heysham. Hancock's Contractors in Heysham, Lancashire, are carrying out work to dismantle the Riverdance, which has now sunk about 4m (4.4yd) into the sand.  |  Areas will have to be cut down and dropped so there is still a high element of danger for the people working on it |
The MCA warned it would be a few weeks before people saw a noticeable difference in the appearance of the ship, which has proved a popular tourist attraction. Spokesman Donald McDonald said: "Inside the hull you've still got trailers in there and there's cargo and timber still loose. "Areas will have to be cut down and dropped so there is still a high element of danger for the people working on it." Two huge holes will be cut in the 2,600-tonne vessel to leave its shell intact while it is stripped down. Once cut into pieces, the huge sections will be transported away on huge lorries for recycling. Works traffic will be limited to the hours of 0800 BST to 2000 BST, but for some residents it is the crowds attracted by the ship that are causing the most problems. Roy Andrew, whose property overlooks a grassy area in front of the beach, said he was looking forward to the project's completion. "You can have 100 people all walking around out there with bikes, playing football and having picnics out there - and they leave all their rubbish," said Mr Andrew.
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