Stranded ship allowed to berth

A Latvian ship stranded off the Louth coast in a dispute over safety will return to land late tonight, the International Transport Federation (ITF) has confirmed.

Harbour Master at Dundalk, Captain Frank Allen, today agreed to allow the Fortuna I and its 11 man crew to berth for an unspecified period.

The ship has been stranded off the Irish coast since March 26.

ITF inspector Ken Fleming said the move marked progress.

“The ITF will facilitate a number of interested parties we have been in contact with, in the shipping industry, to come together and make the necessary arrangements to put the Fortuna I back into service.”

Port authorities at Greenore, Louth, refused the crew access and the ship the permission to sail home because of safety concerns over lifeboats and ventilation hatches.

After the 11 crew unloaded the Fortuna’s cargo of steel bars, the ship was ordered to leave its berth and had been moored at the entrance to Carlingford Lough ever since.

Mr Fleming said the Irish Coastguard had ordered the boat’s detention but had not returned to inspect repairs.

It is understood that Latvian authorities are refusing to allow the ship back home until safety concerns are resolved.