Twenty-three passengers and crew have been airlifted from a ferry that got into difficulties in the Irish Sea overnight.
The Riverdance, which was travelling from Warrenpoint, Co Down, began to list heavily in force 10 winds after being hit by an eight-metre freak wave off the coast of Lancashire.
The Riverdance rests on Blackpool beach this morning after it was hit by a freak wave last night
Coastguards said the ship, a roll-on-roll-off cargo and passenger vessel operated by Seatruck Ferries, reported a 60-degree list after cargo shifted on board.
Two helicopters from the RAF and one from the Dublin coastguard, as well as two RNLI lifeboats, helped in the rescue, which began when Liverpool coastguard received a mayday call.
Four passengers and ten crew members were airlifted from the ship. The remaining nine people, all crew members, were on the vessel when it ran aground on the north shore of Blackpool beach late last night. They were taken off the ship by helicopter today. The crew comprised 15 Poles and four Britons.
Seatruck Ferries said the vessel was carrying trucks and trailers from Warrenpoint to the port of Heysham in Lancashire.
Efforts to refloat the boat this morning were unsuccessful. Seatruck Ferries has signed a contract with Rotterdam-based salvage firm Smit, a spokesman said. A salvage master and 10 divers are travelling to Lancashire on a charter flight, and should arrive this afternoon.
The salvage master plans to be dropped onto the Riverdanceby helicopter later today to examine the stricken vessel so he can draw up a salvage plan.