The large timber-hulled trawler, which went on fire off the Galway coast yesterday, has now run aground on an uninhabited island at the entrance to Roundstone Harbour.
The 84-foot boat, owned by the Tridentine Bishop, Michael Cox, had been consecrated as a 'floating church' and was to be used to confront an 'abortion ship' which is due in Irish waters.
The boat burned out during the night and is now on the rocks on the southern tip of Inishlackan Island about two miles from Roundstone.
Council engineers are removing its fuel tanks to prevent any pollution threat to the bay.
The Coastguard service says a small oil slick around the wreck is breaking up but is not causing any ecological threat. It said it is now a matter for Galway County Council to arrange for the disposal of the vessel.
The LÉ Róisín and Air Corps helicopter have been monitoring the rocky shoreline where the boat went aground.
Its three crew members were snatched to safety yesterday evening.
Bishop Cox told RTÉ today that the boat was uninsured and that he had no way of replacing it.
