Runaway lorry leaves Stranraer ferry passengers stranded.

The vessel discontinued its voyage with the lorry hanging off the stern, which is now preventing the vessel from connecting to the Stranraer linkspan.

The 156 passengers on board and 33 crew have thus been stranded on the vessel since the incident occurred at approximately 21:20 last night. There is no danger to life and passengers have been given blankets and food. A crane has been mobilised from the north of England to remove the lorry.

A loud bang was reportedly heard by passengers shortly after the Stena Voyager sailed. ‘The ship then almost came to a standstill, passenger Peter McCrory told BBC News. However, we discovered on looking out the rear doors there was a lorry hanging out through the back, it had burst the rear doors.’

Colin Lochhead, Watch Officer at the Clyde Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre said, ‘The lorry is currently hanging off the stern, which is preventing the ferry from docking with the linkspan. The Stranraer Port Authority will use a mobile crane to recover the lorry to enable the ferry to dock. Stranraer Coastguard Rescue team and the Stranraer RNLI lifeboat are currently standing by if assistance is needed.’

Stena spokesman Nigel Tilson said the lorry was carrying a non-hazardous load and the hole through the vessel’s stern door was some 30 feet above the waterline.