International carrier is freed from Shannon sandbank

Tugboats today helped to move a massive bulk carrier from a sandbank in the mouth of the river Shannon where coastguards had feared it could be stuck for several days.

The Princess Vanya, which is carrying a 60,000 tonne cargo, was freed as overnight weather was not as bad as predicted.

The Department of the Marine say the vessel, with a crew of 24 Filipinos and two Greeks, is now just west of Scattery Island, Co Clare.