Ahoy! Colossal 539ft cruise liner ploughs into four yachts

A giant 539ft cruise ship ploughed into four luxury yachts while attempting to enter a harbour in Dartmouth, Devon, yesterday.  

Witnesses reported seeing boat owners ‘running from their vessels in pyjamas’, as the liner headed towards smaller vessels which were moored in the bay.

Pictures show the moment the Sage Pearl II collided with a far smaller vessel, scarcely managing to scrape past as it attempted to enter the harbour.

This yacht, along with three others, were superficially damaged during the incident however nobody was injured.

Four luxury yachts came up against a giant 539ft cruise ship while sailing around Dartmouth harbour yesterday

Witnesses reported seeing boat owners 'running from their vessels in pyjamas', as the liner headed towards smaller vessels which were moored in the bay

Witnesses reported seeing boat owners ‘running from their vessels in pyjamas’, as the liner headed towards smaller vessels which were moored in the bay

The damage was caused to the yachts while the cruise ship tried to turn as it was being piloted by the harbour master at Dartmouth, Devon. 

Dart Harbour Authority said it is now trying to track down the owners of all the boats involved in the incident and has launched an investigation.

Steve McMillan, 54, of Brixham, Devon, who witnessed the incident, said: ‘The Saga Pearl II collided with four yachts on the way in to Dartmouth.

Pictures show the moment the huge boat collided with a far smaller vessel, scarcely managing to scrape past as it attempted to enter the harbour

Pictures show the moment the huge boat collided with a far smaller vessel, scarcely managing to scrape past as it attempted to enter the harbour

This yacht, along with three others, were superficially damaged during the incident however nobody was injured

This yacht, along with three others, were superficially damaged during the incident however nobody was injured

‘She turned in too wide and people were running out of their boats, in their pyjamas on a nearby pontoon adjacent to the yacht club.

‘It really was close.’

Mark Hubbard, chair of Dart Harbour, said no one was hurt in the incident.

The damage was caused to the yachts while the cruise ship tried to turn as it was being piloted by the habourmaster at Dartmouth, Devon

The damage was caused to the yachts while the cruise ship tried to turn as it was being piloted by the habourmaster at Dartmouth, Devon

Dart Harbour Authority said it is now trying to track down the owners of all the boats involved in the incident and has launched an investigation

Dart Harbour Authority said it is now trying to track down the owners of all the boats involved in the incident and has launched an investigation

He added: ‘The cruise ship Saga Pearl II, piloted by harbourmaster Captain Mark Cooper was brought into the Port of Dartmouth this morning.

‘The ship has been berthed on the mainstream moorings.

‘During a manoeuvre to turn, the ship clipped four yachts causing superficial damage.

Steve McMillan, 54, of Brixham, Devon, who witnessed the incident, said: 'The Saga Pearl II collided with four yachts on the way in to Dartmouth

Steve McMillan, 54, of Brixham, Devon, who witnessed the incident, said: ‘The Saga Pearl II collided with four yachts on the way in to Dartmouth

'She turned in too wide and people were running out of their boats, in their pyjamas on a nearby pontoon adjacent to the yacht club'

‘She turned in too wide and people were running out of their boats, in their pyjamas on a nearby pontoon adjacent to the yacht club’

He added: 'The cruise ship Saga Pearl II, piloted by harbourmaster Captain Mark Cooper was brought into the Port of Dartmouth this morning'

He added: ‘The cruise ship Saga Pearl II, piloted by harbourmaster Captain Mark Cooper was brought into the Port of Dartmouth this morning’

‘No one was hurt in the incident and the harbour office is now making all efforts to contact the owners of the yacht involved.

‘Records from the incident are being collated and will be analysed in order to identify exactly why this occurred and what can be learnt.’

The Saga Pearl II is currently on its final season hosting cruises for Saga touring Western Europe including England, France and Spain.

'The ship has been berthed on the mainstream moorings, during a manoeuvre to turn, the ship clipped four yachts causing superficial damage'

‘The ship has been berthed on the mainstream moorings, during a manoeuvre to turn, the ship clipped four yachts causing superficial damage’

'No one was hurt in the incident and the harbour office is now making all efforts to contact the owners of the yacht involved'

‘No one was hurt in the incident and the harbour office is now making all efforts to contact the owners of the yacht involved’

'Records from the incident are being collated and will be analysed in order to identify exactly why this occurred and what can be learnt'

‘Records from the incident are being collated and will be analysed in order to identify exactly why this occurred and what can be learnt’

It has capacity for a maximum of 449 passengers and 220 crew members.

A spokesperson for Saga said: ‘The Saga Pearl 2 arrived in Dartmouth this morning under pilotage by the harbourmaster.

‘During a manoeuvre she came into contact with four small leisure craft causing superficial damage.

‘Nobody was hurt in the incident and the harbour office are making every effort to contact the owners of the yachts involved.

‘Damage to the yachts will be thoroughly assessed and any damage caused by Saga Pearl 2 will be rectified.’

The Saga Pearl II is currently on its final season hosting cruises for Saga touring Western Europe including England, France and Spain

The Saga Pearl II is currently on its final season hosting cruises for Saga touring Western Europe including England, France and Spain

It has capacity for a maximum of 449 passengers and 220 crew members

It has capacity for a maximum of 449 passengers and 220 crew members

A spokesperson for Saga said: 'The Saga Pearl 2 arrived in Dartmouth this morning under pilotage by the harbourmaster, during a manoeuvre she came into contact with four small leisure craft causing superficial damage

A spokesperson for Saga said: ‘The Saga Pearl 2 arrived in Dartmouth this morning under pilotage by the harbourmaster, during a manoeuvre she came into contact with four small leisure craft causing superficial damage

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk