Passenger ferry stranded for three hours after accident

A PASSENGER ferry was left stranded on rocks for almost three hours after running aground just metres from Doolin Pier in Co Clare.

The incident occurred at around 11.30am as the MV Rose of Aran, operated by Aran Doolin Ferries, was arriving in Doolin to collect passengers travelling to the Aran Islands.

The ferry was approaching Doolin and was between Crab Island and the pier when it ran aground about 25 metres off shore. There was a crew of four on board. However, according to the company, there were no passengers on board at the time.

The Irish Coast Guard (ICG) was notified of the incident at midday and the ICG’s Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin requested that members of the local ICG unit board the vessel to assess whether there was a pollution risk.

Doolin ICG personnel carried out their inspection, confirming that the ferry had not been damaged and that there was no risk of pollution. It is understood that there were several hundred litres of diesel fuel on board at the time.

After speaking with the skipper and satisfying themselves there was no risk to the ferry, the ICG team stood down and allowed the operators to resolve the matter.

At around 2.15pm the ferry got under way again with the tide.