Almost 200 passengers and crew spent the night stranded on a ferry in a Scottish port today after a lorry broke free and burst through the ship's rear door.

The Stena Line service from Stranraer to Belfast was forced to sail back to the port with the lorry hanging out of the back.

Passengers said they became concerned after hearing a loud bang at the rear of the vessel, the Stena Voyager. The coastguard was alerted at around 9.20pm.

Once back in Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, the 156 passengers and 33 crew were not able to disembark because the ferry could not berth as the lorry was blocking the way. A 400-tonne crane was travelling from the north of England today to remove the lorry and allow the ferry to dock, and was expected to arrive late morning.

The cab of the lorry is inside the ferry while the trailer is hanging out of the stern and the rear door has been damaged.

Passengers on the stricken 7.50pm service were given blankets, food and drink during their night on board. A Stena Line spokesman said: “They are in absolutely no danger. The ship was quickly stabilised and there is no-one hurt.”

He said that the lorry had been secured aboard but appeared to have slipped back and gone through the door. Colin Lochhead, watch officer at the Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said: “There has been no danger to life and all appropriate authorities have been informed of the incident.”

The lorry was a tanker carrying non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder and none of the substance has leaked, police said.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said there would be no danger to the public if the material escaped.

HSS Stena Voyager went back into service only on Monday after a £1 million refit.

Once passengers have disembarked later today, the damage will be assessed and the vessel will go back to Belfast for repairs. It normally makes four round trips a day between Stranraer and Belfast.

Services on the route were suspended until further notice, but Stena Line passengers were being transferred to P&O services. Police said that Stena Line and maritime agencies will carry out a full investigation into the incident.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Should Knox’s trial even have reached the courtroom?
• All that glitters is not sold in Wright’s world
• Believe it or not, Big Brother is your friend