BB FANS

Press Association
Friday March 10, 2006 6:58 PM

More than ten people have been injured when a ferry collided with a dockside ramp, coastguards said.

Nine were removed by ambulance crews from the Red Falcon after it crashed in Southampton docks at around 4pm on Friday with 130 passengers on board.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said there were a number of other 'walking wounded'.

The lower deck of the ferry had been cleared and coastguards were attempting to clear the top deck before moving the vessel, the spokesman said.

"Nine casualties have been taken off by Hampshire ambulance service," the spokesman said.

One was in a neck brace but walking and another was on a stretcher. A crew member who was knocked unconscious was also among the injured.

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said: "The ferry actually hit the Link Span when it was coming in which has caused some injuries to passengers.

"We are not sure to what extent the passengers have been injured on the vessel. We are assisting with other authorities but it's quite a major incident."

The coastguard spokesman added: "The ferry was in the process of docking in Southampton."

The car ferry transports a range of vehicles and passengers, including trucks, coaches, motorbikes, and cars, the spokesman said. He added that the route from Cowes to Southampton "is one of the main links for people on the Isle of Wight to come into the mainland and vice versa".

I knew this would happen one day... ever since they started using the new ferries which have massive manageability due to bow and stern thrusters. I used to watch them dock from the pier and see how over confident the captains where becoming. relying on pure thrust to stop their forward momentum at the last possible second. At a guess this is a result of putting on the power way too late and crashing into the pontoon that suspends the car ramp on the quay.

The Ferries in question can stay on station within inches using their thrusters system and I have seen one dock in force 10 conditions without any problems.

This is the second ferry crash I can remember, the last one was when the Hydrofoil (no longer in use) ploughed into several yachts of cowes during cowes week

At least nobody was killed.

Brings back memories of going up the Southsea Beach in a Hovercraft,.....backwards in a squal

Ah.. I always con relatives and friends when I go there, get them to stand up above the spray shield on the prom when the hovercraft comes in while ducking for cover myself as they get soaked and pelted with shingles

I must admit I`ve seen the hovercraft cross from Southsea to Ryde traveking southwards but pointing eastwarf all the way compensating for the wind.

Useless Fact ... Did you know that a hovercraft comes under the laws of an Aircraft and is marked and lite as such and the bloke steering/flying it has to be a qualified plane passanger pilot

I did a lot of work with the old 200 Hovercraft Squadron, both at Lee on Solent and in Singapore so got to know a lot of the Pilots. When the craft went across the main road at Lee it was great fun watching the large pebbles bouncing off tourists car windscreens. The locals moved well back and watched the fun.

Thats where all the darn jet ski`s launch now

I lived 10 mins from there for years, I used to sailboard from Hill Head (away from the smegers on jet bikes)