Storms and high waves in the North Sea battered a Stena Lines ferry sailing from Harwich in England to the Hook of Holland yesterday, ripping panels from the bow section of the vessel. In western France authorities banned motorists and pedestrians from some coastal areas as storms battered the shore and cut off islands.
Some vehicles on board the ferry were also damaged, but none of the 900 passengers was hurt.
"The bow was damaged with some of the panelling coming off, but there was no risk to the passengers," a Stena manager said.
The Discovery, one of Stena's fast new catamaran ferries, will be out of action until repairs are completed.
The Dutch coastguard service said yesterday that it had received no reports of other shipping encountering problems in the North Sea.
Among areas worst hit in France was the Quiberon peninsula in southern Britanny, also known as the Savage Coast. Officials there said waves up to 10 metres (30 feet) high were expected, French television reported.
Officials said they expected winds of up to 180 k.p.h. (110 m.p.h.).
The storm cut sea and air links with Ushant and Molene islands, where at least 600 tourists were stranded and food supplies were said to be running low in hotels.
Severe weather conditions also affected traffic in the English Channel. Sea-France, one of two companies plying the Calais-Dover route, suspended all sailings after its vessels encountered winds of up to force 10, port officials said.
The other company on the route, Pandoro, cancelled half its sailings.
It was the third day running that severe storms lashed western France. Authorities said three rescue workers were injured late on Saturday when a tree fell on their field headquarters tent.
Three people were killed in road accidents caused by the weather on Friday.