Russian cargo ship refloated after running aground in Cornwall

A Russian cargo ship which run aground off a beach in Cornwall as strong winds whipped across the southwest has been refloated.

Emergency services were launched just after 6am to help the 16,000 tonne Kuzma Minin bulk carrier ship which was stuck just metres off Gyllyngvase Beach and Swanpool Beach in Falmouth Bay.

The vessel, which had 18 Russian crew on board, was refloated during high tide.

The 180.5m-long German-built ship was moored in Falmouth Bay when its anchor started dragging in the early hours of the morning, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokeswoman told Sky News.

She added that the ship was carrying no cargo and there were no reports of any pollution from the grounding.

The vessel ran aground on the western side of the port entrance at 5.40am, in what was described as "horrific" and "extreme" weather.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Devon and Cornwall Police declared a "major incident".

Alexander Yakovenko, Russia's ambassador to the UK, tweeted his thanks for the "prompt response, co-operation and goodwill" in relation to the rescue.

Video footage released by the MCA shows winchman Niall Hanson being lowered down to the ship in 60mph winds.

A coastguard helicopter was seen landing on the ship at about 9.30am and ambulances were at the beach, with roads nearby closed.

Witnesses have taken pictures of the boat close to the shore and the incident came after the Met Office issued a yellow warning of severe weather with 65mph winds forecast.

Falmouth Harbour Master Mark Sansom said the ship would now be inspected and its future discussed.

In a statement, he said: "We can confirm that the Kuzma Minin - a 180-metre Russian Bulk Carrier, was successfully refloated at 14.08.

"This has been a successful and well co-ordinated operation involving multiple agencies.

"We would like to recognise the outstanding performance of the pilot and of all vessel crews involved in what was a very demanding incident.

"The Kuzma Minin has been taken to Falmouth Bay to anchor, in order for it to be inspected.

"We are now discussing the future of the vessel with the secretary of state's representative for maritime salvage and intervention and the vessel owners.

"HM Coastguard and Devon & Cornwall Police have advised the search and rescue phase of the situation is now over and it is no longer a major incident.

"To confirm, there is no evidence of any pollution."

Ildar Neverov, a director at JSC Murmanks Shipping Company, which owns the ship, blamed the port's "unsafe navigation conditions" in an interview with Russian news agency RIA.

He told Sky News all the sailors on board are alright and the ship will be checked for damage.

A marine pilot was taken to the ship by the coastguard to help guide the boat off the sandbank when the tide rises.

Live shipping tracking data shows the anchor started dragging at 4am from the middle of Falmouth Bay, with the crew managing to pull it back a few times before it ran aground nearly two hours later.

The Kuzma Minin, named after a Russian resistance hero, delivers cargo around northern Europe.

It sailed from the port of Terneuzen in the Netherlands on 12 December and arrived in Falmouth Bay just after midday on 14 December, according to the Marine Traffic website.

The efforts to rescue sailors from the beached tanker come on the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Penlee lifeboat disaster.

The 1981 tragedy, which occurred in nearby Penzance, claimed the lives of 16 people in similar circumstances.