Fuel Leak As Ship Hits The Rocks Off Scotland
A container ship on its way to Norway has run aground off the Scottish coast and is leaking fuel.
An operation is under way to contain any risk of pollution and free Lysblink Seaways, which has nine people on board.
The alarm was raised at around 1.50am on Wednesday when the vessel became stuck off Kilchoan, north of the Isle of Mull, in the West Highlands.
The ship, thought to be carrying paper, did not refloat at high tide at 4.35am.
Tugs are expected to try to free the vessel and the Tobermory lifeboat is at the scene. So far, no-one has been reported injured.
A spokesman for the RNLI said: "Tobermory RNLI's volunteer crew launched the Severn class lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, shortly after 3am to go to the aid of the vessel which was hard aground on rocks close to the ferry slipway.
"On arriving at the scene, the lifeboat crew established that whilst the vessel had sustained damage and was taking on some water, it was not in imminent danger of sinking. There are no reports of any injuries to the crew."
The ship was travelling from Belfast to Skogn in Norway when it ran aground.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has sent emergency towing vessel Heracles to the scene.
It is expected to arrive at around 2am on Thursday.
The vessel's owners have appointed a salvage company and a commercial tug, which is thought to be heading to the area from Greenock, Inverclyde.
A MCA spokesperson told Sky News: "Counter pollution measures are in place as there is a small amount of fuel leaking from the vessel.
"Currently, there is a light sheen on the water's surface [measuring] two by two metres.
"An assessment will be made early this evening with regard to what course of action should be taken with regard to moving the vessel."
