Stuck cargo vessel is refloated

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7064039.stm

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A 25,000-tonne cargo vessel which was stranded on a sandbank for almost 12 hours has been refloated.

Five tugs pulled the ship free from the spot where it was grounded off Dumbarton Castle in the River Clyde at about 0100 BST on Saturday.

The Ocean Light was taken to Great Harbour in Greenock to assess whether it had been damaged.

The Maltese-registered vessel became stuck on the sand bank at about 1330 BST on Friday.

Three tugs spent almost three hours trying to refloat the bulk carrier, which was shipping maize, soya and citrus pulp pellets to Hamburg.

They suspended their efforts in the late afternoon on Friday and decided to try again at high water on Saturday, when they managed to free the vessel.

There were believed to be around 23 people on board the Ocean Light, which is 196 metres long. No-one was injured in the incident.