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| Ship rescue: Fuel leak worry for Carrier off Llanddulas after crew saved | Ship rescue: Fuel leak worry for Carrier off Llanddulas after crew saved |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Concern is growing that fuel tanks may have ruptured in a cargo ship which ran aground off north Wales, leading to the dramatic late-night rescue of the crew. | Concern is growing that fuel tanks may have ruptured in a cargo ship which ran aground off north Wales, leading to the dramatic late-night rescue of the crew. |
| Seven crew members were saved and an operation to refloat the stricken vessel, the Carrier, is expected later. | Seven crew members were saved and an operation to refloat the stricken vessel, the Carrier, is expected later. |
| The ship is in one piece after hitting a rock in rough seas near a quarry jetty at Llanddulas, near Colwyn Bay, but has not yet been secured. | The ship is in one piece after hitting a rock in rough seas near a quarry jetty at Llanddulas, near Colwyn Bay, but has not yet been secured. |
| Salvage and pollution experts are on their way to assess the damage. | Salvage and pollution experts are on their way to assess the damage. |
| Strong winds and rough seas remain a problem for those trying to secure the vessel, which is carrying 40,000 litres of fuel. | Strong winds and rough seas remain a problem for those trying to secure the vessel, which is carrying 40,000 litres of fuel. |
| Ray Carson, rescue co-ordination centre manager at Holyhead Coastguard, said there was a smell of fuel around the vessel, which is currently lying on the beach a few feet from the A55. | Ray Carson, rescue co-ordination centre manager at Holyhead Coastguard, said there was a smell of fuel around the vessel, which is currently lying on the beach a few feet from the A55. |
| The A55 eastbound was closed to allow the helicopter to land and take off. The road remained shut on Wednesday morning between junction 22 (Old Colwyn) and 23 (Llanddulas), and westbound between junction 24 (Abergele) and 22 (Old Colwyn). The closure will be reassessed at 10:00 GMT. | The A55 eastbound was closed to allow the helicopter to land and take off. The road remained shut on Wednesday morning between junction 22 (Old Colwyn) and 23 (Llanddulas), and westbound between junction 24 (Abergele) and 22 (Old Colwyn). The closure will be reassessed at 10:00 GMT. |
| "The tide has dropped away now and the next high water is about 10 o'clock this morning," said Mr Carson. | "The tide has dropped away now and the next high water is about 10 o'clock this morning," said Mr Carson. |
| He said Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) teams would examine the situation and work with colleagues from the salvage industry to look at the correct way of handling the vessel. | He said Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) teams would examine the situation and work with colleagues from the salvage industry to look at the correct way of handling the vessel. |
| The rescue operation involving lifeboats and a helicopter began on Tuesday night after the vessel - which used a jetty to load limestone - is believed to have hit a rock on the breakwater and ended up on the beach. | The rescue operation involving lifeboats and a helicopter began on Tuesday night after the vessel - which used a jetty to load limestone - is believed to have hit a rock on the breakwater and ended up on the beach. |
| The RNLI said the Llandudno and Rhyl all-weather lifeboats launched into a "full gale and rough seas" at 20:30 BST and arrived on scene by 21:00 BST. | The RNLI said the Llandudno and Rhyl all-weather lifeboats launched into a "full gale and rough seas" at 20:30 BST and arrived on scene by 21:00 BST. |
| Distress flare | |
| All seven of the Polish crew were successfully rescued by around 01:00 BST. | All seven of the Polish crew were successfully rescued by around 01:00 BST. |
| However, the rescue helicopter's winch broke midway through the operation, when five of the crew were off the ship. | However, the rescue helicopter's winch broke midway through the operation, when five of the crew were off the ship. |
| Rescue co-ordinators had to send out a second helicopter to collect the remaining two crew members. | Rescue co-ordinators had to send out a second helicopter to collect the remaining two crew members. |
| The crew were taken uninjured to North Wales Police headquarters in Colwyn Bay. | The crew were taken uninjured to North Wales Police headquarters in Colwyn Bay. |
| There were concerns of a fire on board the vessel but it turned out to have been a distress flare. | There were concerns of a fire on board the vessel but it turned out to have been a distress flare. |
| Marcus Elliott, the local lifeboat operations manager, said: "The next phase of the operation is to salvage the vessel and assess any damage to its hull. | |
| "There's a strong smell of fuel down there. I don't know obviously for certain but I'm presuming the fuel tanks have been ruptured in some way." | |
| A Welsh government spokesman said it was closely monitoring the situation and being kept fully informed. | A Welsh government spokesman said it was closely monitoring the situation and being kept fully informed. |
| An MCA spokesman said: "It is not yet clear what the reason was for this ship running aground." | An MCA spokesman said: "It is not yet clear what the reason was for this ship running aground." |
| Eye witness Sophie Madeley, from Llandudno Junction, told the BBC the rescue teams had done an "amazing" job. | Eye witness Sophie Madeley, from Llandudno Junction, told the BBC the rescue teams had done an "amazing" job. |
| "I have watched this all night and was stood next to the A55 for the rescue, my high respect goes out to the pilot of the helicopter for the amazing work I watched him do, and also out to the crew for battling it through what has happened." | "I have watched this all night and was stood next to the A55 for the rescue, my high respect goes out to the pilot of the helicopter for the amazing work I watched him do, and also out to the crew for battling it through what has happened." |
| Another eye witness, Matthew Syddall, said conditions during the rescue were atrocious. | Another eye witness, Matthew Syddall, said conditions during the rescue were atrocious. |
| "The ship was clearly wedged up against the coast with the helicopter hovering overhead with its floodlight lighting the deck," he said. | "The ship was clearly wedged up against the coast with the helicopter hovering overhead with its floodlight lighting the deck," he said. |
| "You could just about make out the helicopter winching people off the ship. | "You could just about make out the helicopter winching people off the ship. |
| "Conditions were absolutely horrific. It was more about the wind than anything. It wasn't so wet where we were standing but the waves that were breaking over the boat were reaching way over the wheelhouse." | "Conditions were absolutely horrific. It was more about the wind than anything. It wasn't so wet where we were standing but the waves that were breaking over the boat were reaching way over the wheelhouse." |
| The 82m (269ft) ship was registered in Antigua and Barbuda. | The 82m (269ft) ship was registered in Antigua and Barbuda. |
| The grounding comes after another vessel - the Swanland - got into difficulties in the same area and sank on 27 November after loading with limestone at the jetty. | The grounding comes after another vessel - the Swanland - got into difficulties in the same area and sank on 27 November after loading with limestone at the jetty. |
| However, Mr Carson said the circumstances were different. | However, Mr Carson said the circumstances were different. |
| "From what I gather in this case, the vessel was trying to move off the jetty and for whatever reason got themselves into difficulty and ended up on the beach," he said. | "From what I gather in this case, the vessel was trying to move off the jetty and for whatever reason got themselves into difficulty and ended up on the beach," he said. |
| Are you in the area? Did you see the rescue operation? Please send us your pictures and videos. | Are you in the area? Did you see the rescue operation? Please send us your pictures and videos. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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