The 46-meter M/Y Moatize gave onlookers quite a scare when it crashed into a wharf in Cairns, Australia, on August 10 just after 6 p.m., news.com.au reports. Reportedly, a mechanical problem caused one of the vessel’s engines to lock into full speed.
Thankfully, no one was injured as a result of the incident. Crewmembers were seen waving their arms in a video and telling people to get out of the way, while other crew dropped the anchor to minimize damage, which slowed down Moatize. Other boats at the marina were only slightly damaged.
“We came in and did a tight turn, which we have to do, and our starboard gear was stuck ahead when I selected to go astern. We could have taken out one of the other vessels,” Moatize’s captain told 7News Cairns. “We did what we are trained to do in a collision: We shut down all engines, dropped an anchor, and thank God we selected a nice spot where there was no personnel.”
He said it was just a technical problem and would be fixed in the next week. She suffered some scratches to the paint on the hull, which the captain said will be fixed when they return to Brisbane.
Although converted-trawler restaurant Prawn Star in the marina was at full capacity with 60 people, no one was injured — even posting a Facebook video of the incident from their vantage point on the restaurant's page. The collision damaged the berthing pontoon, which forced it to close and made several boats, including Prawn Star, have to relocate, ABC reports.
Cairns Marlin Marina’s operator Ports North is investigating the incident, but no spills were reported. Moatize was safely guided to its berth after an emergency response.
Photo from Prawn Star's Facebook video