The stricken fishing vessel, the Celestial Dawn, was successfully lifted off the rocks at Dingle Harbour, Co Kerry yesterday after an eight-hour operation.
The operation, performed by the Belgian salvage company, began shortly after first light. Large steel cables were placed round the ship, and a giant floating crane was involved in the lifting of the trawler along with a tug and barge.Fungi the dolphin watched from a safe distance.
The vessel will be towed to a scrapyard on the continent.
The Spanish crewed, Irish registered Celestial Dawn went onto the rocks underneath the lighthouse shortly after setting out from Dingle in bad weather early last month. Ten crew members were lifted off.
Bad weather delayed the removal of oil for several days and prevented the salvage operation getting under way before now.
There had been fears for marine life, including Fungi, who lives in the harbour area, if the vessel's 39,000 litres of diesel oil were to spill.
Kerry County Council has written to the EU and to the Department of the Marine seeking legislation which would prevent all vessels setting out in exceptionally bad weather. Estimates locally put the cost of the salvage operation at over €600,000.