A PASSENGER ferry was left stranded on rocks for almost three hours yesterday after running aground just metres from Doolin pier in Co Clare.
The incident occurred at about 11.30am as the Rose of Aran, operated by Aran Doolin Ferries, was arriving in Doolin to collect passengers travelling to the Aran Islands.
The ferry was between Crab Island and Doolin pier when it ran aground about 25m from the shore.
There was a crew of four on board and, according to the company, there were no passengers on board at the time.
The Irish Coast Guard was notified of the incident at midday, and its marine rescue co-ordination centre in Dublin requested that members of the local Coast Guard unit board the vessel to assess if there was a pollution risk.
Doolin Coast Guard personnel carried out an inspection and confirmed the ferry had not been damaged and there was no risk of pollution.
At about 2.15pm the ferry got under way again with the tide.
According to ferry operator Kevin O’Brien, there were no passengers on board at the time and the vessel got under way again when it was lifted from the rocks with the tide.
Mr O’Brien said: “This was a very minor incident and there was no damage to the ferry.
“Doolin is tidal so these things do happen.
“Even a few inches of water can make a difference.
“There were no passengers on board, just four crew, and the ferry returned to service and went back to the islands with the tide,” he said.
The company was able to operate services to and from the Aran Islands with its second vessel.
The Irish Coast Guard said: “The operators notified us of the incident at 12pm, and the ferry was refloated again at 2.15pm.”