HM Coastguard, Liverpool and Cheshire Emergency services, Liverpool Pilot and the Lifeboat were all called out out on Sunday afternoon when the Royal Iris passenger ferry ran aground in the Mersey. Around 78 passengers were on board, and were safely evacuated to a nearby dock.

The vessel was in the tidal Mersey near the Eastham Locks whilst on a short river cruise event, not the usual to and fro to the Wirral. Apparently the vessel touched bottom and has damage to the hull. It was taking on water. Royal Iris was recovered to the lock, and a dredger nearby helped with getting passengers off, and pumping out the water. Royal Iris is, on Sunday night, in the dock adjacent to the locks. No doubt it will shortly go to the dry docks at nearby Cammel Lairds.

You can read the story in the Liverpool Echo  here

Mersey Ferries provide an important service daily across the river to the Wirral for commuters and tourists, There are two vessels, Royal Iris and Snowdrop. The third vessel Daffodil is laid up, cost cutting you will understand. In the summer, in addition to the regular service, the vessels cruise to Manchester up the ship canal, up one day and back the next. These trips came to a sudden stop in May when a new bridge over the other end of the ship canal, near Manchester’s Trafford Centre, collapsed. The canal remains closed, and all is silent about clearing the navigation. If you missed this story see here