The 16,000-tonne vessel is freed eight hours after running aground off the Cornish coast.

A Russian cargo ship which was stranded on a Cornwall beach for more than eight hours is freed.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Tolls need to be increase on the Tamar Bridge to prevent a repeat of disaster in Italy which saw a major bridge collapse killing 43 people, according to Cornwall Council Cabinet member Geoff Brown.

He told councillors that there was a need to raise tolls by 33% so maintenance could be carried out.

The Liberal Democrat councillor was referring to the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa in August which killed motorists as they crossed.

Image source, Google

The Cabinet agreed to submit a formal request, with Plymouth City Council, to the government to increase the cost of using the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry by 33%.

That means the cost for a car could rise from £1.50 to £2 in July 2019.

Both councils, which are responsible for the bridge, are also set to ask for more control from the Department for Transport over the cost of tolls so they might be increased in future according to inflation.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A man is in hospital with serious injuries after a stabbing in Penzance, police say.

Officers said a man in his 30s was found in a property in St Clare Street after they were called at about 06:30.

A 48-year-old male was arrested about an hour later and is in custody after a search for a man "who may have been in possession of a knife".

BBC Radio Devon

The A379 Torbay Road in Torquay has been closed both ways due to poor weather conditions between the A3022 Torbay Road and Belgrave Road.

The seafront is currently closed due to bad weather conditions bringing water over the sea wall.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

A 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship which ran aground off a beach in Cornwall has been freed.

The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40 GMT.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) declared a major incident and said the 590ft (180m) ship had a list of about five degrees.

There is no cargo on the ship, which has 18 Russian crew on board.

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Cuts to the number of emergency towing vessels in the UK meant it was "only a matter of time" before rescuers would have problems dealing with situations like the grounding of a Russian cargo ship off Cornwall, a marine expert says.

The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth early on Tuesday.

David Appleton, a shipping expert with Nautilus International, a trade union for maritime professionals, said there used to be four emergency HM Coastguard towing vessels in the UK, but, because of cutbacks, there is only one left in Scotland.

He said that was not good enough when there was an incident anywhere else in the UK.

The government is yet to comment.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

Image source, RNLI Falmouth

Lifeboat volunteers are among those which have been enduring "horrendous conditions" assisting a 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship which ran aground off Cornwall, the RNLI says.

The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40 GMT.

The Falmouth all-weather lifeboat has been afloat since 06:15, "standing by the vessel since to ensure everyone’s safety".

The charity said the weather conditions had been "particularly challenging", with force seven to eight winds, gusting force nine, a 3m-high swell and torrential rain.

It added: "The lifeboat continues to stand by and the volunteer crew are liaising with the coastguard to assist where they can throughout the recovery of the vessel."

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship which has run aground off a beach in Cornwall has "no spoils" on board, police say.

The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40 GMT.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they, the Environment Agency, and coastguard were all working together during what has been declared a major incident.

Supt Matthew Longman said officers were asking the public "to stay away from the area and to allow us the space needed to handle this" in "extremely unpleasant" weather.

He said people could be "placing themselves at risk by coming to the beach".

The 62,000-tonne container ship MSC Napoli ran aground off Devon in January 2007 when it was badly damaged in a storm in the English channel.

Some of its cargo - including motorbikes, pet food, wine barrels and anti-wrinkle cream - were among varied items that washed up on Branscombe beach.

Scavengers arrived in their droves from around the country to explore shipping containers scattered along the coast.

We looked at the Napoli grounding, 10 years on, here.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

The owner of a 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship which has run aground off a beach in Cornwall says there is no risk to the lives of its crew or the environment.

The Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40 GMT.

Work is being carried out to refloat the vessel.

Ship owner Murmansk said the vessel became stranded after the captain decided to anchor down in bad weather but later the ship "touched the ground".

A statement in Russian which has been translated confirmed there was a crew of 18 on board, that no one was injured, and investigations were under way "to get to the bottom of the issue".

Image source, MCA

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online - at the scene

Tugs have abandoned an attempt to refloat an aground ship off the coast of Cornwall.

The Kuzma Minin was grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40.

Three tugs, including a low-platform vessel, tried to move the ship just after midday but have now stopped their attempt.

It is understood difficulties with lines between the vessels caused the attempt to be cut short.

Dexter was found covered in blood by his owner after being shot in the face.

Dexter was left with a fractured jaw and shrapnel in his face after being hit with airgun pellets.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online - at the scene

Tugs have been attempting to push an aground ship off the coast of Cornwall.

The Kuzma Minin was grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40.

An operation to refloat the vessel was due to take place at high tide at 13:15, but coastguards said that, if it was felt the ship was moving enough, they would make an earlier attempt.

Traffic will be busiest on Thursday and Friday before rail engineering and strikes cause cancellations.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A Russian cargo ship has run aground off a beach in Cornwall.

Here is what is known about the incident so far:

• The single deck ship was built in 1980 in Germany
• It measures 180m (590ft) by 23m (75ft), with a gross tonnage of more than 16,000 tonnes and is operated by Russian company Murmansk
• It grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth, at about 05:40, sparking a major incident
• There is no cargo on the ship, but it has a crew of 18 Russians. There are no reports of injuries
• Three harbour tugs and a lifeboat have been involved in a refloat operation and a ship's pilot was airlifted on board by a coastguard helicopter
• If attempts to refloat it on Tuesday afternoon are unsuccessful, the vessel be left for the rest of the day and another attempt to refloat will be made at high tide on Wednesday
• The crew is expected to stay on board

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online - at the scene

Coastguards said they are going to attempt to refloat a stranded Russian cargo ship off Cornwall at about 13:15 instead of a previously scheduled attempt at noon.

The 16,000-tonne Kuzma Minin grounded off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth at about 05:40.

There have been reports of the bow slightly moving but not the stern.

If the initial attempts to fully refloat the ship do not work and nothing has happened by 13:30, the operation will be abandoned for the rest of the day.

The crew will be kept on board and they will look to refloat it again on Wednesday at high tide.

High tide in Falmouth is due on Wednesday at 02:00 and 14:17.

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BBC Radio Cornwall

A major incident has been declared in Falmouth as attempts get under way to re-float a 16,000-tonne cargo ship that has run aground on Gyllyngvase Beach.

The Russian-registered Kuzma Minin is unladen but there are 18 crew onboard.

She ran aground in heavy seas and darkness at about 05:40.

A line has been fired to get a line on board the vessel as part of the refloat operation.

BBC Radio Cornwall's Martha Dixon spoke to the Senior Coastal Operations Manager Marc Thomas at the scene...

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online - at the scene

People have gathered at a Falmouth beach to see the 16,000-tonne Russian cargo ship Kuzma Minin, which has run aground.

Robert Moss, from the town, said he had “nothing else on” today, so may stay and watch for some time.

He said: “Having spent the last 10 years at sea, I thought I’d come and have a look. I wouldn’t want to be out there today."

Jackie O’Shea, who also lives in Falmouth, said she had never seen “anything like” the ship aground.

She said: “It’s amazing isn’t it? I just hope they can get it off.

"Quite a lot of ships moor out there, so it’s surprising it doesn’t happen more often."

Image source, Jess Hughes/PA Wire