OMEN
01-29-2009, 09:39 PM
Emergency services have begun removing some of almost 200 passengers and crew trapped on a ferry by a jammed lorry.
The 156 passengers and 33 crew were stranded on board the Stena Voyager overnight after a lorry was discovered hanging off the back of the vessel.
The ferry, which was bound for Belfast, had to return to Stranraer.
The fire and rescue service has started using a lifting platform to remove passengers before a crane attempts to lift off the lorry.
The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening after a loud bang was heard by passengers.
Those on board have been supplied with blankets and food and the crane was brought from the north of England to remove the lorry
One of the passengers, Peter McCrory from Dungannon, told BBC News that the ship almost came to a standstill.
"However, we discovered on looking out the rear doors there was a lorry hanging out through the back, it had burst the rear doors."
Mr McCrory said it had been a frightening experience, adding: "If the boat had taken in water, it could have been a tragedy."
The emergency services were alerted to the incident on board the Stena Line HSS Stena Voyager Fastcraft at 2130 GMT on Wednesday. The vessel had left Stranraer at 1950 GMT.
Mickey Barr, from Derry, said: "We've been on here now for the guts of 17 hours, from 10 o'clock last night, there's been no threat at all and we've been well catered for by the cabin staff.
"A few people are getting frustrated at being in so long but generally it seems fairly good, everybody's talking and mingling."
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said an articulated tanker broke free and seriously damaged one of the stern doors.
The ship was quickly stabilised and none of the passengers or crew on board was injured.
The Voyager sailed back to Stranraer where the stricken motor lorry, which is owned by Turners (Soham) Ltd, based in Newmarket, Suffolk, will be removed by crane, before the vessel can be properly berthed to allow passengers and vehicles to disembark.
The passengers began coming off via the lifting platform at about 1800 GMT.
Once the removal exercise is complete it is hoped the crane will lift off the lorry so the vessel can dock and start unloading all the other vehicles.
A Stena spokesman said the hole in the back of the vessel was 30ft above the water line.
He added: "Over the last few hours Stena Line has been trying to identify the safest and most efficient method of getting the 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.
"We are working closely with the fire and rescue service and hope to be in a position to start getting everyone ashore."
The tanker was laden with non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder. Police said the load was fully intact and none of the substance had leaked.
He added: "Scottish Environment Protection Agency advice has been obtained in the event any leakage occurs and there is no danger to the public.
"A full investigation into the incident will be carried out by Stena Line and maritime agencies."
Colin Lockhead from Clyde Coastguard said they had been monitoring the situation.
"We put out the Stranraer lifeboat and the Stranraer Coastguard rescue team as well just to stand by the vessel for safety reasons," he said.
"Because of the lorry still hanging from the stern of the vessel it was unable to hook up to the link span at the harbour, so the passengers and vehicles have been unable to disembark from the vessel."
BBC
The 156 passengers and 33 crew were stranded on board the Stena Voyager overnight after a lorry was discovered hanging off the back of the vessel.
The ferry, which was bound for Belfast, had to return to Stranraer.
The fire and rescue service has started using a lifting platform to remove passengers before a crane attempts to lift off the lorry.
The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening after a loud bang was heard by passengers.
Those on board have been supplied with blankets and food and the crane was brought from the north of England to remove the lorry
One of the passengers, Peter McCrory from Dungannon, told BBC News that the ship almost came to a standstill.
"However, we discovered on looking out the rear doors there was a lorry hanging out through the back, it had burst the rear doors."
Mr McCrory said it had been a frightening experience, adding: "If the boat had taken in water, it could have been a tragedy."
The emergency services were alerted to the incident on board the Stena Line HSS Stena Voyager Fastcraft at 2130 GMT on Wednesday. The vessel had left Stranraer at 1950 GMT.
Mickey Barr, from Derry, said: "We've been on here now for the guts of 17 hours, from 10 o'clock last night, there's been no threat at all and we've been well catered for by the cabin staff.
"A few people are getting frustrated at being in so long but generally it seems fairly good, everybody's talking and mingling."
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said an articulated tanker broke free and seriously damaged one of the stern doors.
The ship was quickly stabilised and none of the passengers or crew on board was injured.
The Voyager sailed back to Stranraer where the stricken motor lorry, which is owned by Turners (Soham) Ltd, based in Newmarket, Suffolk, will be removed by crane, before the vessel can be properly berthed to allow passengers and vehicles to disembark.
The passengers began coming off via the lifting platform at about 1800 GMT.
Once the removal exercise is complete it is hoped the crane will lift off the lorry so the vessel can dock and start unloading all the other vehicles.
A Stena spokesman said the hole in the back of the vessel was 30ft above the water line.
He added: "Over the last few hours Stena Line has been trying to identify the safest and most efficient method of getting the 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.
"We are working closely with the fire and rescue service and hope to be in a position to start getting everyone ashore."
The tanker was laden with non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder. Police said the load was fully intact and none of the substance had leaked.
He added: "Scottish Environment Protection Agency advice has been obtained in the event any leakage occurs and there is no danger to the public.
"A full investigation into the incident will be carried out by Stena Line and maritime agencies."
Colin Lockhead from Clyde Coastguard said they had been monitoring the situation.
"We put out the Stranraer lifeboat and the Stranraer Coastguard rescue team as well just to stand by the vessel for safety reasons," he said.
"Because of the lorry still hanging from the stern of the vessel it was unable to hook up to the link span at the harbour, so the passengers and vehicles have been unable to disembark from the vessel."
BBC