This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7857643.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Rescue as lorry falls from ferry | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Emergency services are set to start removing almost 200 passengers and crew trapped on a ferry by a jammed lorry. | |
| The 156 passengers and 33 crew were stranded on board the Stena Voyager overnight after a lorry was discovered hanging off the back of the vessel. | |
| The ferry, which was bound for Belfast, had to return to Stranraer. | |
| The fire and rescue service is building a platform from the dock to the ferry to remove passengers before a crane attempts to lift off the lorry. | |
| The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening after a loud bang was heard by passengers. | The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening after a loud bang was heard by passengers. |
| Those on board have been supplied with blankets and food and the crane was brought from the north of England to remove the lorry. | |
| One of the passengers, Peter McCrory from Dungannon, told BBC News that the ship almost came to a standstill. | One of the passengers, Peter McCrory from Dungannon, told BBC News that the ship almost came to a standstill. |
| If the boat had taken in water, it could have been a tragedy Peter McCroryPassenger "However, we discovered on looking out the rear doors there was a lorry hanging out through the back, it had burst the rear doors." | |
| Mr McCrory said it had been a frightening experience, adding: "If the boat had taken in water, it could have been a tragedy." | Mr McCrory said it had been a frightening experience, adding: "If the boat had taken in water, it could have been a tragedy." |
| The emergency services were alerted to the incident on board the Stena Line HSS Stena Voyager Fastcraft at 2130 GMT on Wednesday. The vessel had left Stranraer at 1950 GMT. | The emergency services were alerted to the incident on board the Stena Line HSS Stena Voyager Fastcraft at 2130 GMT on Wednesday. The vessel had left Stranraer at 1950 GMT. |
| Mickey Barr, from Derry, said: "We've been on here now for the guts of 17 hours, from 10 o'clock last night, there's been no threat at all and we've been well catered for by the cabin staff. | Mickey Barr, from Derry, said: "We've been on here now for the guts of 17 hours, from 10 o'clock last night, there's been no threat at all and we've been well catered for by the cabin staff. |
| "A few people are getting frustrated at being in so long but generally it seems fairly good, everybody's talking and mingling." | "A few people are getting frustrated at being in so long but generally it seems fairly good, everybody's talking and mingling." |
| Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said an articulated tanker broke free and seriously damaged one of the stern doors. | Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said an articulated tanker broke free and seriously damaged one of the stern doors. |
| The ship was quickly stabilised and none of the passengers or crew on board was injured.The lorry hangs out of the ferry doors | The ship was quickly stabilised and none of the passengers or crew on board was injured.The lorry hangs out of the ferry doors |
| The Voyager sailed back to Stranraer where the stricken motor lorry, which is owned by Turners (Soham) Ltd, based in Newmarket, Suffolk, will be removed by crane, before the vessel can be properly berthed to allow passengers and vehicles to disembark. | The Voyager sailed back to Stranraer where the stricken motor lorry, which is owned by Turners (Soham) Ltd, based in Newmarket, Suffolk, will be removed by crane, before the vessel can be properly berthed to allow passengers and vehicles to disembark. |
| It is hoped the passengers will begin coming off in pairs over the next two hours, so that the crane can lift off the lorry and it is then planned to dock and start taking off other vehicles from about 2000 GMT. | |
| A Stena spokesman said the hole in the back of the vessel was 30ft above the water line. | |
| He added: "Over the last few hours Stena Line has been trying to identify the safest and most efficient method of getting the passengers and crew ashore. | |
| "We find ourselves in a totally unique set of circumstances and are having to consider a number of unorthodox methods to find a safe solution. | |
| "We are working closely with the fire and rescue service and hope to be in a position to start getting everyone ashore." | |
| The tanker was laden with non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder. Police said the load was fully intact and none of the substance had leaked. | The tanker was laden with non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder. Police said the load was fully intact and none of the substance had leaked. |
| He added: "Scottish Environment Protection Agency advice has been obtained in the event any leakage occurs and there is no danger to the public. | He added: "Scottish Environment Protection Agency advice has been obtained in the event any leakage occurs and there is no danger to the public. |
| "A full investigation into the incident will be carried out by Stena Line and maritime agencies." | "A full investigation into the incident will be carried out by Stena Line and maritime agencies." |
| Colin Lockhead from Clyde Coastguard said they had been monitoring the situation. | Colin Lockhead from Clyde Coastguard said they had been monitoring the situation. |
| "We put out the Stranraer lifeboat and the Stranraer Coastguard rescue team as well just to stand by the vessel for safety reasons," he said. | "We put out the Stranraer lifeboat and the Stranraer Coastguard rescue team as well just to stand by the vessel for safety reasons," he said. |
| "Because of the lorry still hanging from the stern of the vessel it was unable to hook up to the link span at the harbour, so the passengers and vehicles have been unable to disembark from the vessel." | "Because of the lorry still hanging from the stern of the vessel it was unable to hook up to the link span at the harbour, so the passengers and vehicles have been unable to disembark from the vessel." |