Isle of Wight ferry crashes into yachts and runs aground in Cowes

Ella Wills21 October 2018

An Isle of Wight ferry has run aground during thick fog and crashed into at least two yachts at Cowes Harbour.

The Red Falcon hit the boats while trying to berth in the harbour at around 8am on Sunday, the UK coastguard said.

The boat, which was travelling from Southampton, came to a hard stop around 50 metres from the shore at East Cowes, according to the Island Echo.

Search and rescue lifeboats were launched after a member of the public called 999 reporting that he had heard cries for help within the harbour.

Nobody is in the water or missing, the Maritime and Coastguard agency said in an update.

The ferry ran aground during thick fog
Twitter/adi imsirovic

A spokesman for Red Funnel said the ferry came into contact with "several" small yachts.

Visibility conditions have hampered a search by crews from Cowes RNLI lifeboat, Calshot RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge, Needles and Ventnor.

All 56 onboard the ferry are safe and well, the coastguard said.

Pictures shared by locals online showed the ferry being towed into East Cowes.

The Maritime and Coastguard agency said in a statement: "Just after 8am today HM Coastguard received reports that the Red Falcon Ferry had collided with at least two yachts whilst trying to berth at the entrance of Cowes Harbour during heavy fog.

"At around the same time we received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting that he’d heard cries for help within Cowes Harbour."

People are seen near the Red Falcon
REUTERS

It added: "HM Coastguard can confirm that nobody is in the water or missing in Cowes Harbour.

We made contact with person who was heard crying for help and he is safe and well. He was onboard his own vessel and calling out to try and alert the master of the ferry.

"The Red Falcon ferry, with assistance of tugs, has been refloated and is now in the process of going alongside in £EastCowes where MCA surveyors will make an assessment. All passengers remain safe and well and will disembark when the vessel is safely alongside."

A spokesman for the ferry company Red Funnel said: "The 0700 vehicle ferry sailing from Southampton to East Cowes came into contact with several small yachts whilst entering Cowes Harbour at 0800 this morning in dense fog.

"The ship (Red Falcon) is currently aground but is watertight and no injuries have been sustained to any of the 40 passengers on board."

The spokesman added: "Attempts to refloat the vessel are currently under way on a falling tide. If this proves unsuccessful, a further attempt will be made at the next high tide.

"Cowes Harbour has now reopened and Red Funnel's Red Jet Southampton-West Cowes service will resume shortly."

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