PASSENGERS have spoken of their fear that the ferry they were aboard was going to sink after a collision with a cargo ship in the Mersey.
Those looking out of the windows of the Sea Express 1 told how they saw the ship looming towards them out of Saturday morning’s freezing fog.
“I thought, ‘that’s a bit close’, then the next thing, bang,” said one passenger.
“We got knocked for six. The ferry was reeling on one side. We thought that was it – it was going to sink.”
The ferry was damaged in a collision with the Alaska Rainbow merchant cargo ship at the entrance to the Alfred Dock, Birkenhead, at 11.20am on Saturday morning.
It was hit twice by the tug, once to the rear and once damaging the bridge, before it began letting in water.
Divers from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency became involved in the operation late Saturday afternoon in an attempt to plug the holes in the ferry, an effort expected to go on through the night.
The ferry, which had been returning to the city from the Isle of Man, was assisted by tug boats to dock at the Pier Head’s Isle of Man landing stage to evacuate the 238 passengers and crew on board.
Merseyside coastguard units and specialist fire and rescue teams from throughout the city were sent to the scene.
An ambulance also attended although no-one was hurt in the incident, and police kept traffic away from Princes Parade.
“I was looking out the window and saw this big boat was coming towards us out of the fog, then we heard a big bang,” said passenger Peter Tyer.
“It hit the back quarter and the ship slew round and hit us again.
“It all happened in about 30 seconds and the tugs were out there quickly to bring us in.
“We had already slowed down because of the fog so we were lucky.
“There was hardly any panic – the crew worked well to get us all in life jackets and keep everyone calm.”
Emergency services worked on the ferry to recover cars and luggage stuck on board.
However at around 2.45pm passengers were told it had become too dangerous to try and retrieve their property.
Mr Tyer, owner of the Suite Hotel in Knowsley, said on Saturday afternoon: “My Mercedes is still on there, but we’re still alive and that’s the main thing.”
Steven Travis, sector manager for Maritime and Coastguard agency said teams from Crosby, Liverpool and Hoylake attended the scene with the lifeboat from New Brighton and the Fire and Rescue Service’s marine rescue unit.
He said: “The fire service has high volume pumps on board to try and get the water out.
“An awful lot of water got into the ferry and the starboard engine room was flooded, but it is reasonably stable.
“At the moment the biggest problem is trying to find a dry dock and until then she isn’t going anywhere.”
Ferry Operator Steam Packet would not comment on the incident but handed out a statement confirming the details on the incident.
The company said weather conditions “were calm sea but thick freezing fog.”
The ''Sea Express One'' (formerly SeaCat Isle of Man) of the Isle of Man Steam Packet was hit twice, in heavy fog on the River Mersey at Liverpool by a tug towing the ''Alaska Rainbow'' cargo ship near the entrance to Alfred Dock, Birkenhead, at 11.20 on Saturday morning.

None of the reported 294 passengers and crew were hurt, and the ferry is moored at Liverpool Pier Head while water is being pumped from the engine room. 80 cars remain on board, and passengers have been warned that some may have been damaged.

While further north a plane was lost in the fog. Missing airplane may have been found.