Stranded ferry was 'under equipped'

Oct 1 2009

A ferry stranded off port for 24 hours after a lorry crashed through its rear door did not have the necessary equipment to secure vehicles on board, maritime investigators have found.

Almost 200 passengers and crew were stranded overnight on the Stena Voyager when the articulated road tanker, which did not have its handbrake on and was out of gear, broke free shortly after the craft left Stranraer on route to Belfast in January.

The high-speed ferry was unable to re-berth because the lorry, which was left hanging precariously off the stern, was obstructing access to the docking terminal.