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THIS IS PAGE 2 -- Feature Updates

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 2 Pages - Updated To May 18 2008

Page 1 M/V Riverdance- Initial Reports - to 25 March 2008

  "Back To The Beach"
On The Scene In The Irish Sea Off Blackpool, UK

Feature Date: Ferbruary 6 2008

Event Date: January 31 2008

This Is Page 2

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On The Scene -- In The Irish Sea Off Blackpool

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M/V Riverdance Index - Current To May 18 2008

Page 1-- The Fight To Save M/V Riverdance - Jan. 31 to March 30

Page 2 M/V Riverdance - March 30 To Present - Daily On-Scene Commentary

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"Back To The Beach"

On The Scene

In The Irish Sea Off Blackpool

The Death of M/V Riverdance?

Page 2

Reports of M/V Riverdance

From The Cargo Letter - April 3 2008 --The News We Expected
M/V Riverdance stranded off the Blackpool coast is to be dismantled on the beach, officials have decided.

M/V Riverdance ran aground off the Lancashire coast in January after being hit by a freak wave as it sailed from Northern Ireland to Heysham.

After several failed efforts to refloat the vessel by owners, Seatruck Ferries, the firm said it will never sail again.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has now said that the ferry will be dismantled and the parts recycled.

The process is expected to take between 12 and 14 weeks. A total of 23 people were airlifted to safety - 19 crew and four passengers when the 6,000-ton vessel ran aground.

M/V Riverdance has since become a popular tourist attraction as people from across the UK visit Blackpool to see the ferry, which is stuck fast on its side.

It is estimated that about 4mt. (4.4yards) of the ferry's wheelhouse is under the sand.

M/V Riverdance will now be stripped down internally until only the shell remains. The hull will then be cut into manageable pieces and transported for recycling, the MCA said. Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), said the operation would cause "minimum disruption" in the area. The original plan to refloat M/V Riverdance was abandoned after it was battered by storms last month, causing it to list further and sink deeper into the sand.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black - Tues. April 3= 2008.

From The Cargo Letter - April 10 2008 --The news we expected

After a lengthy evaluation process, the owner of, M/V Riverdance now lying on Blackpool beach, has produced plans to dismantle the ship in situ on the grounds that this represents the best option available in the interests of safety and protecting the environment.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of States Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), has been involved throughout and has informed the owner that he has no objection to the plans.

Weather permitting, it is estimated that the project will take approximately 12-14 weeks. Options examined ranged from righting the vessel (known as par-buckling), cutting up in situ or a combination of both. The preferred method will involve cargo, trailer and machinery removal, including any debris and any pollutants, whilst maintaining the integrity of the hull. M/V Riverdance will be stripped down internally until only the shell remains. The hull will then be cut into manageable pieces and transported for recycling.

Until the new contract for demolition is awarded, SMIT Salvage remain on contract to carry out caretaking duties only.

The original plan to reduce the list using tidal and internal buoyancy was abandoned due to the additional structural damage sustained during storms on 12 March. The vessel remains lying on the beach with a list of 100 + degrees. In addition the vessel continues to sink deeper into the sand. It is estimated that at least 4 metres of the bridge / wheelhouse is now under the sand.

On Thursday 31 January 2008, the vessels crew, on passage from Warren Point to Heysham, reported that she had developed a 40 degree list and was drifting towards the Lancashire coast. M/V Riverdance subsequently grounded at Cleveleys Beach, North Shore, Blackpool.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black - Tues. April 3= 2008.

From The Cargo Letter - April 12 2008 --The news we expected

Within 3 months M/V Riverdance will be no more. The death knell has sounded for the doomed sea ferry after it was finally confirmed she will be cut up on Blackpool beach.

Heysham-based Hancock's Contractors will now undertake the massive task of dismantling the vessel which ran aground in terrible storms on Jan. 31.

M/V Riverdance has become a major tourist attraction and visitors are expected to flock to the shoreline at Anchorsholme once wrecking crews move in. It is hoped &endash; given good weather &endash; the 6,000-tonne Seatrucks ship will be completely removed from the beach by the end of June 2008.

The decision to break up M/V Riverdance was taken after more than two months of efforts to refloat it failed largely due to bad weather.

The top area of M/V Riverdance will now be sliced into approximately 10 sections from stern to bow, leaving the hull intact until the end. Then that in turn will be cut into between 4 and 6 sections to be hauled off the beach by two mobile cranes.

Round-the-clock security will remain in place throughout the process.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black - Tues. April 3, 2008.
More Amazing Photos Taken By Alan Robson Demonstrate That M/V Riverdance Has Been Killed.

Here Alan Robson Casts The Stricken M/V Riverdance Against Her Sister Seatruck Ferry Carrying On.

This Must Be The Signature Photo Of All Working Ships.

This is A Career Photo of Alan Robson.

Alan Robson Shows Us That M/V Riverdance Is Breaking, Even Before The Breakers Proces of SMIT Salvage Begins

M/V Riverdance Is Dead. Now The Scavenger Process Will Begin.

M/V Riverdance Is In Her Final Stage

M/V Riverdance Cannot Be Saved

The Photos of Bernard Corbett Capture The May 10 Morning.

M/V Riverdance Will Now Begins Her Slide Toward Razor Blades

Salvors Begin The Task of Converting M/V Riverdance To Scrap

M/V Riverdance May Donate Her Parts To New Vessels

As May 2008 Proceeds -- Less of M/V Riverdance Remains

The Photos of Alan Robson Capture Efforts To Reduce M/V Riverdance From Vessel To Scrap

From The Cargo Letter - April 12 2008 -- Fire Aboard

Demolition workers were moved off stricken M/V Riverdance grounded on a beach near Blackpool after a fire on board. The blaze broke out in a tractor unit of a lorry in the hold of M/V Riverdance, which ran aground off the Lancashire coast in January 2008.

Fire crews had to withdraw from M/V Riverdance off Cleveleys when the tide rose, but say the fire is believed to be out. A spark from cutting equipment used by the 30-strong team of contractors is believed to have caused the fire.

No-one was injured and about 30 workmen were moved offM/V Riverdance.

Fire crews from Fleetwood, Bispham, Blackpool and St Annes were sent to the scene and a team were due to go back on board at about 1500 BST. Bispham station manager Mark Alderson said: "I do believe that we have managed to quell the fire as there are no visible signs from the shoreline, but due to the position of the ship and its distance from the shoreline it is difficult to be totally sure. "Contractors have plans in place to prevent ignition from their work but they are of course using hot cutting equipment and this risk can never totally be eliminated. "Agencies including the police, coastguard, contractors and ourselves have worked closely together to put in place plans to deal with any incident like this. "Our response this morning was part of this plan."

The spokesman said residents were never in any danger and urged people to stay out of the security cordons. Salvagers started preparatory work to dismantleM/V Riverdance, which was expected to take 12 to 14 weeks.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black - Sunday May 18, 2008.

Valuable Cargo Was Once Laden In A Container Upon This Chassis.

Now -- The Container, The Chassis & The Cargo -- All Leave The System.

No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

Further News As This Disaster Continues.

M/V Riverdance Endures A Sad End.

 

Editors Note: Expect Our Contining Coverage.

THIS IS PAGE 2 -- Feature Updates

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 2 Pages:

Page 1 M/V Riverdance- Initial Reports - to 25 March 2008

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NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss. Please Contribute.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  Please Contribute

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