Ferry passengers stranded after accident
Almost 200 passengers and crew remained stranded on board a ferry in the North today after a lorry broke free and burst through the ship's rear door.
The Stena Line service between Stranraer and Belfast was forced to sail back to port with the lorry hanging out of the back after the incident.
Passengers said they became concerned after hearing a loud bang at the rear of the vessel.
The coastguard was alerted at around 9.20pm.
Once back in Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, the 156 passengers and 33 crew were not able to disembark because the ferry could not berth as the lorry was blocking the way.
A 400-tonne crane was travelling from the north of England today to remove the lorry and allow the ferry to dock, and was expected to arrive late morning.
The cab of the lorry is inside the ferry while the trailer is hanging out of the stern and the rear door has been damaged.
Passengers on the stricken 7.50pm service were given blankets, food and drink during their night onboard.
A Stena Line spokesman said: "They are in absolutely no danger.
"The ship was quickly stabilised and there is no one hurt."
He said the lorry was secured onboard, but it appears it slipped back and went through the door.
Watch officer at the Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Colin Lochhead said: "There has been no danger to life and all appropriate authorities have been informed of the incident."
The lorry was a tanker carrying non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder and none of the substance has leaked, police said.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said there would be no danger to the public if the material escaped.
HSS Stena Voyager went back into service only on Monday after a £1 million refit.
Once passengers have disembarked later today, the damage will be assessed and the vessel will go back to Belfast for repairs.
It normally makes four round trips a day between Stranraer and Belfast.
Services on the route were suspended until further notice, but Stena Line passengers were being transferred to P&O services.
Police said that Stena Line and maritime agencies will carry out a full investigation into the incident.
The other passenger vessel which usually goes on the Stranraer to Belfast route, the Stena Caledonia, is currently at a yard in Birkenhead as part of a £1.8m (€2m) project.
This means that only a Stena Line freight ship is working on the route today, which may force the operator to call on its other craft which operate in the Irish Sea.
Stena Line spokesman Nigel Tilson said: "We will have to assess the damage to the HSS Stena Voyager first but it has just undergone a £1m (€1.1m) refit and it only came back into service on Monday.
"Unfortunately our conventional ferry which also operates on this route, the Stena Caledonia, is in a shipyard in Birkenhead for a £1.8m (€2m) project which includes a major refit and refurbishment.
"If the problem with the HSS means that it cannot return to service for quite a few days then we will bring in another ship to service the route."
An agreement was reached today with rival ferry operator P&O which means when they disembark, the 156 stricken passengers will go on their journey to the North from the P&O base at Cairnryan.
This lunchtime a crane driven up from Newcastle arrived on the scene at Stranraer although it is yet to take to the water.
It is understood that for the crane to gain access to the freight unit it will need to access the pier area of the harbour which requires authorisation.
Mr Tilson also confirmed that there were two parts to the freight unit which broke through the stern doors, the cab and tanker.
Stena Line spokesman Nigel Tilson confirmed that a platform from Dumfries fire brigade was being used to rescue passengers and staff from the stricken vessel from 4.30pm.
He said: "Over the last number of hours, Stena Line has been trying to identify the safest and most efficient way of trying to get passengers and crew ashore.
"We find ourselves in a totally unique set of circumstances and are having to consider a number of unorthodox methods to find a safe solution to the current situation.
"We are working closely with the fire and rescue service and hope to be in a position at approximately 4.30pm to start getting everyone ashore as quickly and safely as possible.
"We have made reservations with a number of local hotels to accommodate passengers in the short term.
"We then have to start the process of removing the obstructing lorry, getting the craft on to the berth and disembarking vehicles.
"This is likely to take several hours once all passengers and crew have been safely brought ashore.
"This has been a very difficult time for all concerned and passenger and crew safety has been Stena Line's number one priority.
"Throughout this process, passengers have been co-operative and understanding of this unique situation.
"Stena Line would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their patience."
It is understood that before the fire brigade can rescue passengers, a front panel of the vessel will have to be removed and then people will be taken off the ship two at a time.
Passengers will be given the option of staying onboard, being put up in a hotel for the night or being put on another ferry to the North this evening.
