 | All the passengers disembarked safely (Pic sent in by BBC News website user Paul Freeman) |
A Manx ferry which collided with a cargo ship in the River Mersey is expected to remain at Liverpool Pier Head for another couple of days. The Sea Express One collided in fog with the Alaska Rainbow near the Alfred Dock on Saturday lunchtime.
All 294 passengers were taken to safety but the Coastguard said they were still trying to make the ferry stable before they unloaded the 45 vehicles on board.
An operation to pump water out of the ship has been in place since Sunday.
Although none of the passengers were injured in the accident, it is believed that some of the vehicles on board may have been damaged.
Salvage team
A spokesman for Liverpool Coastguards said: "Once the vessel is made stable, the cars will be offloaded and then the ship will be taken over to the other side of the river for repairs.
"Water has been pumped out continously since Sunday morning and is expected to continue for a while.
"We estimate that the ship will remain at the Pier Head for at least a couple more days before it is moved."
A salvage team has been assessing the condition of the Sea Express One, which was travelling from the Isle of Man to Liverpool.
It was operating the route usually sailed by the Superseacat Two, which is undergoing maintenance work.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is now looking into the cause of the collision.