Industry news
Passenger ferry backs into pier
Posted Mon, 08 Feb
Passengers were evacuated from a ferry after it crashed into a pier, it has been revealed. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, the MV Isle of Arran, was reversing into the harbour at Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula at 9.30am on Saturday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. It had sailed from Islay.
A total of 14 passengers were evacuated from the ferry after it hit the pier, but no one was hurt in the incident, according to an MCA spokeswoman. The ferry, also carrying a few commercial vehicles, travels between Scotland's west coast and the islands of the Inner Hebrides.
A Caledonian MacBrayne spokesman said: "I can confirm that it struck the pier and a full investigation is under way. Early indications are that it was due to a mechanical fault. Nobody was hurt." Engineers are now assessing damage to the pier - which is not thought to be too severe.
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