Cargo ferry hits dock wall

The Stena Gothica was cracked below the water line

A cargo ferry has crashed in to a dock wall in the Humber estuary.

The Stena Gothica sustained a 15-feet crack along her port side when she hit the eastern jetty of Immingham Docks at 0030 BST on Tuesday.

Firefighters had to secure cargo lorries and pump out an estimated 30 centimetres of water each hour from the vessel as she began to list.

At least some of the cargo was described by port managers as "hazardous".

Piloting dispute

David Cocke, press officer for the port authority Associated British Ports (ABP) said:"The master of the vessel was in control at the time of the incident."

"There was a pilot on board at the time, but we are stressing that the pilots only provide assistance."

The Humber Pilots are no longer employed by ABP

ABP now employs its own river pilots directly after a dispute with more than 100 pilots over the renegotiation of contracts.

John Davies, spokesperson for the Humber Pilots, whose contacts all expired in January, said: "Immingham is very difficult to get into and out of.

"Under the old system it was assumed that a vessel was under the control of the pilot until it berthed."

None of the 21 people on the ferry at the time of the incident were injured.

Firefighters had to lash ropes around the cargo lorries to prevent them moving around as the ship listed.

Water was pumped out of the flooded ship by six fire engines, and by 1500 BST the severity of the list had been reduced from 13.5 degrees to 7 degrees.

Underwater divers

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman said: "Although no pollution has been sighted in the lock or the river, the Agency's Counter Pollution Branch has been informed.

"Fortunately she was carrying very little fuel when the incident occurred."

The vessel, which was carrying a mixed cargo, was repaired by underwater divers, but is expected to undergo further repair work.

She had been due to unload lorries full of steel at Immingham.

The MCA is investigating the incident.