The Waverly Paddle Steamer ran aground in Girvan harbour last Monday 7 August. Fortunately for the 715 passengers onboard, the Scottish vessel was hardly off her moorings before the captain realised that it was low-tide and she was able to berth. All the passengers had to be disembarked, and a red-faced Waverly Excursions took them back to their departure points by coach.

Under instruction from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the vessel later voyaged to Ayr without passengers for a survey to be carried out. With no apparant damage incurred by the grounding, the Waverly Paddle Steamer was passed fit to sail commercially, and her captain was soon able to set-off a scheduled cruise to Tarbert… hopefully checking his tide-tables first.