This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7221237.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Air rescue for ferry travellers Air rescue for ferry travellers
(40 minutes later)
Passengers and crew are being airlifted from a ferry in the Irish Sea after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather. The crew of a ferry in the Irish Sea are being airlifted to safety after it was hit by a freak wave in bad weather.
Four passengers and 19 crew are being removed after Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT as it battled 7m waves. Four passengers and four crew members have so far been rescued after Liverpool Coastguard received a Mayday call from the ship at 1943 GMT.
The Riverdance, which was sailing from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham in Lancashire, is listing to 60 degrees after its cargo shifted.The Riverdance, which was sailing from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham in Lancashire, is listing to 60 degrees after its cargo shifted.
Royal Navy and RAF Sea King helicopters are involved in the rescue. Three helicopters - two RAF and one from the coastguard are at the scene.
They have been drafted in from Prestwick and north Wales. The Irish Coast Guard has also sent a helicopter asback-up.
There is currently one helicopter on scene beginning to winch people off the stricken vessel - two other helicopters are expected shortly, one from Prestwick and another from Dublin Coastguard. 'Treacherous' conditions
Horrible weather The ship which crosses the Irish Sea twice a day is battling 7m waves and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said that conditions could hamper the rescue attempt. The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas John Matthews, RNLI
"The Sea King can take up to maybe eighteen over water.
"Under these conditions it may well be less, it may need maybe two goes to get all twenty-three off.
"It's just a question of we will do that as fast and as safe as we can and it's really now down to what we can manage to do in the time we have."
Two RNLI lifeboats are also there, as is the Steersman merchant vessel.
According to reports the weather conditions are "horrible" and boats are having difficulty getting close to the ferry.
Jim Paton from Holyhead Coastguard said: "It's extremely difficult to assess it. At the moment it's very rough.Jim Paton from Holyhead Coastguard said: "It's extremely difficult to assess it. At the moment it's very rough.
"Apparently the initial cause of the vessel developing a list was the cargo trucks and trailers shifting. Obviously those are still moving about and is a dynamic situation, depending on the weather et cetera.""Apparently the initial cause of the vessel developing a list was the cargo trucks and trailers shifting. Obviously those are still moving about and is a dynamic situation, depending on the weather et cetera."
'Major incident' John Matthews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution added: "The conditions are treacherous, with a north westerly wind blowing at force nine to 10 and very high seas."
Major incident
The Riverdance - a roll-on-roll-off ferry - got into trouble approximately eight miles west of Fleetwood, Lancashire, in the Irish Sea.The Riverdance - a roll-on-roll-off ferry - got into trouble approximately eight miles west of Fleetwood, Lancashire, in the Irish Sea.
Liverpool Coastguard are treating the rescue as a major incident. There are no reports of anyone injured or missing at present.Liverpool Coastguard are treating the rescue as a major incident. There are no reports of anyone injured or missing at present.
However, the coastguard is not sure whether the ferry will capsize and says it is in a precarious position.However, the coastguard is not sure whether the ferry will capsize and says it is in a precarious position.
Tony Redding, a spokesman for Seatruck Ferries which owns the vessel, said the ship's master ordered the evacuation as a precaution but that some of the crew were planning to stay on board to do all they could to stop the vessel from sinking.Tony Redding, a spokesman for Seatruck Ferries which owns the vessel, said the ship's master ordered the evacuation as a precaution but that some of the crew were planning to stay on board to do all they could to stop the vessel from sinking.
John Matthews, from Fleetwood RNLI, said the rescue was progressing in a very "calm, professional manner" and that as the vessel was in shallow water, it was unlikely to sink.
He added that instead, it was likely to become stranded on a sand bank or come aground at Blackpool.
The Riverdance is currently only two or three miles off the coast, and heading towards the seaside resort's north pier.
It is believed that all those airlifted from the ferry will be taken to Blackpool Airport.It is believed that all those airlifted from the ferry will be taken to Blackpool Airport.