News EventThursday, September 3, 2020 @ 1715 |
WAVERLEY (1947 - 1974 Excursion paddle steamer 240 feet long of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock) |
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Paddle Steamer WAVERLEY collides with pier at Brodick (Isle of Arran) injuring 24 passengers |
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E-mail from Chris Greenhalgh (Edinburgh … and Leeds)
WAVERLEY collides with pier at Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Thursday 3 September 2020 and excursion paddle steamer WAVERLEY was making a sailing along the coast of Arran. It was a bright, clear day with little wind, and everyone appeared to be enjoying the trip.
About 1715 when approaching Brodick pier she collided bow-first into the east berth of the pier. She was carrying 213 passengers and 26 crew members, and the impact of the collision catapulted passengers to the deck.
24 passengers were injured, some seriously, others less seriously. The island’s Emergency services made a full response and were quickly on the scene. The volunteer Fire and Rescue Service assisted many of the injured from the ship and some were taken by ambulance to the War Memorial Hospital at Lamlash. The most seriously injured were flown to the mainland, to Crosshouse Hospital near Kilmarnock, by the Air Ambulance and Coastguard Rescue helicopters.
WAVERLEY, due to the heavy contact with the pier, had damage to her bow.
The British Maritime and Coastal Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch are investigating the accident.
Meantime the ship remains berthed at Brodick Pier.
138 of Waverley's passengers wished to return to the mainland and Caledonian MacBrayne arranged for a special sailing of their CALEDONIAN ISLES leaving Brodick at 2235 that evening to bring the passengers to Ardrossan.
It is sad to consider that WAVERLEY had just returned to service after two years off, and only a fortnight earlier had finished a 2 million-pounds refit at the Dales Marine Services Yard at James Watt Dock, Greenock. Some very recent images on this website show her looking immaculate as she neared her return to service.
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