Procedures say the captain should be suspended during the inquiry

The P&O ferry hit the breakwater in Dover on Friday, leaving 28 people injured.

One person remained in hospital in Kent on Sunday morning.

The captain, who has not been named, has been removed from normal duties and will remain suspended until an inquiry into the incident has been completed.

Sent for inspection

A P&O spokeswoman said a decision over whether to take disciplinary action would be taken after the inquiry was concluded.

The ferry was sent to an independent shipyard in Dunkirk for an inspection.

The 28,559-tonne Pride of Provence was arriving in Dover from Calais at 1730 BST on Friday, carrying 489 passengers and 159 crew, when the incident happened.

Of the 28 people injured - 18 passengers and 10 crew members - 18 were treated on the ferry and 10 were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

No results for weeks

Nine were released by Sunday.

The P&O spokeswoman said the investigation of the ferry's black box recorder would take some time.

She said: "We have launched an investigation and we will not have the results for some weeks.

"It would be inappropriate to say anything further because we do not want to pre-empt the outcome."

But a source at the company added: "It would be normal procedure for the captain to be taken off duty pending an investigation."