Calls have been made to "urgently remove" a capsized ship that was left to rot in a Dublin dock.
The Naomh Eanna, which was taken out of action 37 years ago, has been deemed a "risk" by an expert. The ship was previously in the dry dock at the Grand Canal Basin but has listed in recent days.
The ship was built in Dublin in the 1950s had been the main mode of between Galway and the Aran Islands before being taken out of commission in 1986. Inland Waterways Association of Ireland spokesman Reg MaCabe, said the ship is an eyesore and needs to be "dealt with as a matter of urgency".
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He told RTE: "I think at this stage, the prospect for renovating the ship is extremely limited...I would say any reasonable person would say it's time for it to be removed." The vessel was bought by Sam Field-Corbett of Irish Ship and Bare Fabrication for €1 in 2015.
Mr Field-Corbett intended to turn it into a luxury hotel but the plan fell through. He said a salvage company visited the ship to attempt to shore up the vessel and to limit any damage to the docks.
He said it is believed that the ship may have been scuppered by vandals. The shop is located on lands leased by the National Asset Management Agency who said the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication Company (ISBF) remains solely responsible for the ship and its maintenance.
In a statement, NAMA added that it understands that the ISBF has taken steps to secure the ship and is considering options to resolve the matter, including the removal of the ship from the dock.
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