London: Rescue operations are underway to free a DFDS Seaways containership grounded off the west coast of Scotland.
Lysblink Seaways (160 teu, built 2000) was carrying paper waste from Belfast to Skogn, Norway, when it ran aground off Stornoway at around 2am Wednesday night.
Nine crewmembers remain onboard the vessel, none of whom are reported to have been injured in the grounding.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has dispatched emergency towing vessel Heracles from the Orkney area to assist with freeing the stranded boxship. The vessel did not refloat at high tide.
DFDS Seaways says it has appointed a salvage company and a commercial tug to free the ship.
There has been a small leak from the ship, which will be attended to, but the risk of pollution remains low, UK environment secretary Richard Lochhead told press.
