A major operation is under way in west Kerry to remove a trawler from rocks near Daingean Uí Chúis.
The Fastnet, a French-registered vessel, was driven ashore last December when her engine failed at the mouth of Cuan an Daingin during high winds.
Fourteen crew members were lifted to safety in a dramatic helicopter rescue effort.
Salvage operators are attempting to remove the 350-tonne boat which is situated near the well-known beauty spot of Binn Bán beach.
Over the weekend, a large jack-up platform on which sits a crane was pulled by tug to the mouth of the harbour and placed alongside the stricken vessel.
Due to the weight of the vessel and its resting place in shallow water, salvage operators have said it is not possible to refloat the trawler.
The intention is to cut the boat into pieces in order to remove it.
The pieces of the vessel will then be lifted by crane into a truck which will sit on another landing craft, before being driven ashore.
Seán Harrington, from Atlantic Towage and Marine Salvage, the company contracted to oversee the removal of the trawler, said the effort is complicated by the Fastnet's location.
"It’s an awkward spot alright. The swell tends to funnel into that area. We have the ability to jack-up the platform above the waves, but if we get very high seas we may have to move the platform and crane back into the safety of the harbour," he said.
Mr Harrington added: "We will have two specialist cutters on board the vessel, so the cutting will be done manually. The speed of the work will really depend on weather conditions."
Efforts to refloat the vessel after its grounding in December were unsuccessful.
Damage to the hull of the boat resulted in the spillage of thousands of litres of fuel leading to concerns for the ecological impact of the grounding.
The vessel had been carrying an estimated 40,000 litres of fuel.
An improvement in weather conditions eventually allowed marine pollution and salvage teams to board the vessel and secure any remaining fuel.
The removal of the trawler is expected to take eight weeks to complete.
It is understood the Fastnet’s insurers will cover the cost of removing the vessel as well as the pollution prevention works.
It is believed the cost of the operation will be in the region of €5 million.
Built in 2001, the Fastnet is based in the French-Basque city of Bayonne.
The trawler was previously fishing out of Castletownbere before being sold to French owners.
The Fastnet is resting within 400 metres of Binn Bán beach, an area with picturesque views of the mouth of Cuan an Daingin and Binn Bán lighthouse.
It is also a popular destination for tourists as it overlooks the area of the harbour frequented by Fungie the dolphin before his disappearance in October 2020.
