Four injured after car deck drops on ferry

Sunday, 21 Jul, 2014 0

Wightlink Ferries has been forced to adjust its timetable following an upper deck collapsing onto the deck below on one of its ferries on Friday.

Three passengers and a crew member were taken to hospital after the mezzanine level on the St Helen, which was holding nine cars dropped about 6ft as it was being lowered.

Emergency services were called to Fishbourne terminal on the Isle of Wight just before 10.30pm on Friday.

The ferry had sailed from Portsmouth Gunwharf at 9.30pm with 181 passengers and 11 crew onboard.

Wightlink said: "We have had to make some changes to our Portsmouth – Fishbourne car ferry service.

"This is due to the time taken to resolve the problems with St Helen’s mezzanine deck on friday evening. We will continue to provide a frequent service and are running two additional return sailings these will be: From Portsmouth, 1830 and 2030; From Fishbourne, 1930 and 2130."

See here for the up to date timetable.

The company said in a statement on Saturday: "Wightlink Ferries conducted full safety checks on its other ferries overnight following the incident which affected the St Helen last night.

"Engineers inspected and tested the mezzanine decks before returning the ships to service. St Helen remains out of service.

"As a precautionary measure, three passengers and one crew member were taken to St Mary’s Hospital by the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service. All four have been discharged. A member of Wightlink’s management team attended the hospital to support customers.

"St Helen, in common with all Wightlink ferries, is inspected regularly by external surveyors. The last independent engineering survey of the ship, including its mezzanine decks, took place in May 2014 following her annual maintenance and refit."

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Diane

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