Lysblink Seaways Falls Victim to Strong Winds, Drags Anchor

The grounded DFDS cargo ship Lysblink Seaways was towed back out to sea on Sunday, February 22nd as part of contingency plan to stabilize the vessel as increased wind caused it to drag her anchor.

According to UK Coastguard’s Sunday report, the vessel was stable and at anchor 1.5 miles east of Kilchoan in Mingary Bay with her 9 crew on board.

There was no oil sheen reported on Sunday and salvage work has been progressing well, the coastguard said.

Contractors have deployed a sorbent boom to capture any subsequent releases of oil as there was a small leak on the starboard side of the vessel.

“Salvors are making final preparatory for the transfer of fuel oil from the damaged tank to other internal tanks on board the vessel. This fuel will be removed from the Lysblink Seaways when the weather improves. This work will need to be completed before the vessel can be towed away from the area for repair,” the update reads.

The high winds in the Sound of Mull are forecast to continue until Tuesday. The vessels ‘Forth Jouster’ and ‘Kingdom of Fife’ are on scene to assist with the salvage operation.

According to the coastguard, the Scottish Environment Group continue to monitor the operation and have a representative on scene.

A Marine Response Centre has been established to assist with the oversight and delivery of counter pollution measures.

The Temporary Exclusion Zone of 200 metres is now in place around the vessel’s new location.

The Lysblink Seaways ran aground on 18 February at Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan Peninsula, in the western entrance to the Sound of Mull.

Lysblink Seaways self-floated from the foreshore at Kilchoan shortly before 9 pm on Thursday 19 February.

Image: Port of Hamburg