When a sailor fell overboard from a RIB belonging to HMS Grimsby a 52m, 600 tonne minesweeper, the vessel’s propulsion system failed when she was manouvred to pick him up.

As a result she drifted down onto two ferries used on the Tilbury-Gravesend service causing damage to both.

The seaman was recovered and the vessels’ commander Richard Buckland apologised to the ferry captains.