Hovercraft smashes against pier

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 6

Hovercraft smashes against pier

NZPA-Reuter Dover Two people were killed when waves hurled a hovercraft carrying 370 passengers and 18 crew against a pier in Dover harbour, the police said. Two children were missing. It was the first serious accident involving the seaskimming hovercraft since they were introduced alongside traditional ferries on the busy route between Britain and continental Europe in the 19605. The police said the hovercraft Princess Margaret was entering the port at the end of a trip from Calais, France, when the accident happened. The collision tore a large hole in the hovercraft’s side

and threw 15 people into the sea.

It said an unnamed South American-born woman was taken dead from the sea and a male passenger died later in the hospital. A British girl, aged eight, and a French boy from a 40-strong party of French students were missing.

A man, aged 41, was unconscious and in critical condition, a hospital spokesman said. The police said 35 other people were treated in hospitals for minor injuries. A fleet of lifeboats, tugs and fishing boats put to sea in gale force winds to rescue the passengers pitched into the sea and then ferry survivors to land, the coastguard said.

The craft’s owner, Hoverspeed, said: “This is the first serious incident involving passengers in 17 years of cross-Channel hovercraft operation. “During this period hovercraft have carried nearly 25 million passengers between England and France.”

The Transport Department ordered an inquiry into the accident.

The hovercraft, one of the world’s biggest with capacity for 420 passengers and 60 automobiles, was later towed by tug into harbour, the coastguard said. The police said the craft’s fuel tanks were ruptured in the collision and many of the injured were overcome by fumes.