Two investigations will be conducted into how a 225-metre long merchant ship ran aground at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary last weekend. The ship, Princess Vanya, was refloated on yesterday morning's high tide.
No pollution of the estuary, a designated Special Area of Conservation, occurred. The Shannon Foynes Port Company and the Department of the Marine will now conduct separate inquiries into the incident.
The Cypriot-registered merchant ship, which has a 59,000-tonne cargo of bauxite ore, is now at a safe anchorage two miles west of Scattery Island in the estuary. Divers will examine its hull for any damage today. If it gets clearance, it will proceed to Aughinish Island to deliver its cargo for the Alcan-owned alumina manufacturing plant.
The incident occurred off Beal on the north Kerry coast.