A public transport ferry ran aground when it suffered a mechanical failure and was forced into a shallow area with rocks.

Fifty passengers and four crew members were on board during the morning rush-hour trip yesterday, but no one was hurt in the incident, according to the Department of Marine and Ports Services.

The incident involved the Georgia vessel on the Pink Route, which serves Hamilton, Paget and Warwick.

A statement from the department said: “The vessel experienced a mechanical malfunction as it approached the Salt Kettle ferry dock.

“Due to the direction of the wind, the ferry was pushed past the intended dock location and onto a shallow rocky area and ran aground.

“At the time of the incident, the Pink Route ferry was in the midst of its 8.15am scheduled service, with a total of 50 passengers and four crew members on board.

“Fortunately, no injuries were reported among those on board.

“Given the proximity of the vessel to a residential seawall, passengers safely disembarked from the ferry.”

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It added: “Due to the shallow and congested location, the department dispatched the buoy tender Inspector and the line boat Dragon from Dockyard to assist in the refloating effort.

“Upon arrival, these vessels attempted to pull the ferry free.

“However, their efforts were met with limited success.

“With the tide receding, it was decided to postpone further refloating attempts until the tide rises later today.”

In an update last night, a department spokeswoman confirmed that Georgia was manoeuvred back into deeper water by the buoy tender Dragon at about 4.30pm.

The spokeswoman said the Georgia is now tied up in Dockyard.

The Marine and Ports Services Department is to carry out a “comprehensive” inspection to assess any damage to the ferry.

Another department ferry, Corona, was drafted in to work the route while Georgia was out of commission.

Its statement added: “It is important to note that service on the Pink route has continued without interruption.”

There has been a number of nautical mishaps involving Government vessels recently.

Last November the tugboat Faithfulwas damaged while berthing a cruise ship in Dockyard. The cruise ship was also damaged in the incident.

In 2021, pilot boat St David suffered extensive damage after running aground during a training exercise. The boat was out of action for almost a year to undergo repairs that cost $600,000.

Running along Hamilton Harbour, the Pink Route stops at Belmont Ferry and Darrell’s Ferry in Warwick and Salt Kettle in Paget and is popular with central parish commuters.

It also stops at Hinson’s Island. The route has hit the headlines in the past two years after the Government introduced controversial cuts in the service. A full service, running seven days a weeks, was restored in April.