Isle of Wight Ro-Pax collides with yachts during heavy fog

A Ro-Pax ferry collided with at least two yachts whilst trying to berth at the entrance of Cowes Harbour on the Isle of Wight during heavy fog on Sunday, October 21.

Just after 08:00 on October 21, HM Coastguard received reports that the 93-metre Red Falcon had collided into some yachts and then run aground at the harbour entrance at Cowes.

Various RNLI Lifeboats and Coastguard rescue teams were immediately despatched to the area to render assistance.

None of Red Falcon’s 56 occupants suffered any injuries. HM Coastguard rescuers also confirmed that nobody has gone missing among the people who were also in Cowes Harbour at the time of the incident.

Red Falcon, with the assistance of tugs, was refloated by 11:20 and has manoeuvred alongside in East Cowes where Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyors completed an assessment of the vessel.

By 14:20, the MCA surveyors on-scene had cleared the vessel to be relocated to Southampton, without passengers, to undergo further inspections.

Once the in water survey has been successfully completed, the vessel will be cleared to return to passenger service.