Consultations are continuing between the Irish Coast Guard and Cork County Council in relation to the cargo ship washed up in Cork after Storm Dennis.
The 10 crew of the Alta abandoned it in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean 16 months ago after its engines failed.
There was nobody on board the vessel when it ran aground about two kilometres west of Ballycotton on Sunday.
The US Coast Guard had previously rescued the crew members from the ship back in September 2018.
The vessel has been drifting ever since and came ashore on the Cork coastline.
Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 attended the scene on Sunday night.
Rescue 117 was tasked earlier today to a vessel aground near Ballycotton, Cork. There was nobody on board. Previously the @USCG had rescued the 10 crew members from the vessel back in September 2018. The vessel has been drifting since and today came ashore on the Cork coastline. pic.twitter.com/NbvlZ89KSY
— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) February 16, 2020
Cork County Council's Oil Spill Assessment Team met earlier today, and Environmental Scientists from the council have visited and are satisfied there is no visible pollution.
The council has consulted with the Coast Guard and they've agreed to have an initial assessment of pollution risk carried out.
The council marine contractor is expected to do that at low tide tomorrow morning at approximately 7am.
Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder, marine legal expert Darren Lehane said a situation where a ship floats adrift for months isn't uncommon.
He said: "Most people would think of the Mary Celeste or the Flying Dutchman and they think that couldn't happen in real life.
"Vessels are abandoned on the high seas for all sorts of reasons, for example, the vessel could be involved in illegal activity or conduct like that and they come off it.
Cork County Council is continuing to ask people to stay away from the wreck location as it is on a dangerous and inaccessible stretch of coastline and is in an unstable condition.
The council does not believe this wreck is a risk to the Special Area of Conservation within the Ballymacoda/Ballycotton area.
