Cargo ship grounded and lorries overturned as winds batter coast
TREACHEROUS WEATHER conditions have seen vehicles severely damaged on a ferry while a Russian cargo ship ran aground off the coast in high winds.
Lorries overturned on the P&O Ferries vessel as it sailed from Larne in Northern Ireland to Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, prompting a major emergency response.
Several ambulances were sent to the scene along with police, the fire and rescue service and the coastguard, after six vehicles shifted on board the vessel.
No-one was reported to have been injured in the incident, which happened at about 7.30am yesterday, but some passengers were confined to their vehicles.
Damaged vehicles were lifted from the ferry during the course of the day.
Meanwhile, the 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship that ran aground off the Cornish coast was re-floated during high tide yesterday afternoon.
The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 5.40am yesterday, in what was described as extreme weather conditions.
The vessel, which had 18 Russian crew on board, was taken to Falmouth Bay to for safety inspections.
Falmouth harbour master, Mark Sansom, said: “We would like to recognise the outstanding performance of the pilot and of all vessel crews involved in what was a very demanding incident.”
Mr Sansom confirmed there was no evidence that the ship’s plight had caused any pollution problems. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Devon and Cornwall Police had declared a “major incident” which was brought to an end by late afternoon.
Video footage released by the MCA showed winchman Niall Hanson being lowered down to the ship in 60mph winds.
Witnesses took pictures of the boat close to the shore and it came after the Met Office issued a yellow warning of severe weather with 65mph winds forecast.