A passenger ferry was involved in a collision with a cargo vessel at the entrance to Belfast Lough, authorities in Northern Ireland confirmed last night.
There were 51 passengers and 47 crew on board the ferry but there were no reports of injuries.
Police are assisting the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in an investigation into the incident. The Stena ferry has docked at its terminal in Belfast. Police said the collision took place around 7.45pm close to the Fairway buoy near Bangor, Co Down.
The second vessel remains close to the buoy under the instructions of Belfast Harbour while damage is being assessed.
The ferry left Birkenhead this morning and was on the final stretch of its sailing to Belfast when the collision took place. A spokesman said there were no reports of injuries and everyone on the ferry had safely disembarked.
Alan Couser, operations manager at Donaghadee lifeboat, said: “Donaghadee lifeboat was actually out on exercise when the incident happened and both it and Bangor lifeboat were requested to attend the incident.”
