The dismantling of a decaying abandoned cargoship has begun in the St Lawrence river, Canada.
The 12,500–dwt Kathryn Spirit (built 1967) has been lying in Beauharnois since 2011.
Radio-Canada has now reported that scrapping in situ has started, and the operation could last two years.
In June, the Canadian government opened a tender for its removal.
The ship was towed to the town in 2011 to be scrapped by a Canadian company.
But when it was refused a permit, it was sold on to a Mexican recycler that later went bust.
Some pollutants were removed in 2013.
Mooring cables snapped in June last year, causing the ferry to tilt.
Earlier that year, a fire was started on board. It was extinguished by firefighters, who now believe the ship is too unsafe to board if another blaze occurs.
