Inquiry launched after ferry vehicles plummet into sea

A Stena Line ferry is due back in service, hours after four lorries tumbled out of its back door and plunged into the sea.

A lorry carrying a load of fresh fish smashed through the ferry doors as it left the Hook of Holland on its way to Harwich at 4.45pm Dutch time last night.

The truck and another three vans plummeted into the sea, a spokesman for the Swedish-run ferry said.

He said: "Nobody was hurt in the incident but we are investigating what went wrong.

"The ferry was moving out of the river and into open sea when a freight vehicle started moving.

"One of the doors at the back of the ferry ripped off and the vehicles fell into the sea.

"The lorry was from Denmark and the other vehicles were small vans.

"There was no danger to passengers as the doors are eight metres above the waterline and only there to protect against rain and splash.

"The usual procedure is that vehicles' handbrakes are put on and blocks put under the wheels so they can't move."

The ferry returned to the Dutch port and the passengers were transferred to another boat. Emergency repairs were being carried out on the damaged ferry last night and it is expected back in service today, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the City of Cork passenger ferry was today expected back on its Cork-Swansea route, the day after it failed a mandatory safety inspection.

An inspection under the International Safety Management Code on Tuesday found ‘‘a lack of preparedness as demonstrated by fire drills, full muster, abandon ship and damage control drill’’, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Owners Hellenic Mediterranean Lines of Greece said the 1,100-seat ferry would be operating by this evening if it passed a reinspection.