Cork County Council’s marine contractor boarded the ghost ship that ran aground on Cork coast during Storm Dennis. It is believed that the ship had been drifting for more than a year, passing the Americas, Africa and Europe.
Now, the Council, identified as MV Malta, was boarded by the contractors in efforts to conduct an initial assessment.
AFP reports that under Irish legislation, the Revenue service acts as the “Receiver of Wreck” and has administrative responsibility for dealing with wrecked vessels.
The Council informed that the amount of diesel remaining in the vessel is small, therefore harmless.
There is no cargo on board but a number of sealed containers of oil and other materials incidental to the running of a ship were found which may pose a pollution risk in the event of their spillage
… the Council said in a statement.
The Council will evaluate the remains of the vessel in order to have these materials safely removed from the wreck. The Council is collaborating with the Irish Coastguard, Cork County Council, the Receiver of Wrecks and other relevant bodies in relation to the future of the wreck.
In the meantime, the Council advises the public to stay away from the wreck location as it is located on a dangerous and inaccessible stretch of coastline and is in an unstable condition
