The Donald Redford left its berth on the river Itchen at 17:45 en-route to dredging grounds. It proceeded down river and would normally have turned to port at the dock head in order to carry on down Southampton Water.

However, Bartlett continued across Southampton Water on a course towards Hythe Marina.

When very close to the marina the dredger swung to port, narrowly missing the corner of the marina wall. The vessel then went on to collide with Hythe Pier, where 235 people from the Southampton to Hythe ferry had just landed.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

The MCA surveyor in charge of Southampton Marine Office, Simon Roberts said, 'This very serious incident demonstrates how vitally important it is for any person who is in charge of the navigation of a vessel to maintain proper and effective control.

Captain Bartlett's standard of watch keeping and conduct fell so far below the level required that this collision was inevitable. The MCA views such conduct extremely seriously and will bring offenders to book.'

So too will the British Government, which is fulfilling its pledge to implement Lord Justice Clarke's recommendation to introduce alcohol limits and tests for mariners. Lord Justice Clarke made his recommendation in his Thames Safety Inquiry and endorsed it in his report into the Marchioness disaster.

The new limits mirror those on the road and will put professional mariners over if they have more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Marine officials have been given powers to detain vessels pending the arrival of the police if they have reason to suspect that an offence is being committed. It is the police who will conduct the tests.

The law will apply to professional mariners on UK registered vessels around the globe and to those serving on foreign vessels while in UK waters and on unregistered vessels in UK waters.

The UK Government simultaneously launched a four month consultation exercise seeking views on the introduction of the same alcohol limit for recreational mariners in charge of a vessel. Shipping Minister David Jamieson said he aimed to have regulations in place before the 2005 boating season.

MJ Information No: 19302