A ferry crashed because of gale force winds, mechanical problems and mistakes in handling the crisis.

That's the conclusion into an accident involving the Pride of Kent, which hit a jetty and ran aground.

But investigators said that operators P&O Ferries had since learned lessons and taken action so did not have to make any recommendations.

The ship and jetty were damaged but there were no injuries or pollution.

The report by the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch, published yestererday looked into the accident involving the ship at Calais in 2017.

The report summed up: "Control of the ferry's movement was lost due to the fast rate of turn and the timing and reduced effectiveness of the actions taken to check the swing."

It added other reasons were: "The loss of the number one bow thruster (through temporary breakdown), winds exceeding 50 knots (full gale to storm) acting on the ferry's port side and the use of full port rudder with maximum propeller pitch ahead."

The accident happened on the morning of Sunday, December 10, 2017 when the ship was approaching berth No6 at Calais.

As it passed between the breakwaters the wind speed went up to strong gale and the master decided he would be unable to keep the stern along the berth.

He told the bridge team that he was aborting the berthing and that help from tugs was needed.

The ferry was afterwards able to move into place, so that passengers and vehicles could disembark and it could be loaded for the return to Dover.

It then began to move out of the berth for the return sailing but strong winds caused difficulty in steering.

At exactly 11.46am the ferry's starboard struck the jetty piles.

The ferry moved ahead but about 20 second later the starboard propeller shaft stopped on overload and the ship grounded in the shallow water to the west of the jetty.

Winds had now reached 70 knots, which is hurricane force.

Tugs, some coming all the way from Dunkirk, were called out to rescue the ship and the Calais harbourmaster closed the port to traffic and activated its emergency plan.

At the same time P&O Ferries set up a crisis cell at its HQ in Channel House, Dover.

By 2.30pm the Pride of Kent refloated in the rising tide and was secured to a jetty.

At about 4.15pm the Port of Calais was re-opened and by 5.15pm, winds had eased to 40 knots, though still gale force.

Tugs were used to tow the Pride of Kent to berth No9 where its passengers and freight were disembarked.

The inspectors believed that the hazardous circumstances may have made the master feel pressurised to sail as soon as possible.

It probably led him to sail without briefing the bridge team on the departure manoeuvres and so was not fully supported.

The inspectors added that the helmsman's use of full rudder angle was well intentioned but reflected his relative inexperience and a lack of training on high lift rudders.

P&O Ferries took action to improve the performance of its bridge teams and maintain machinery reliability.

Specifically it developed new training for masters to include machinery failures and emergencies.

It highlighted the need for effective bridge team briefings and worked for better helmsman training.

A spokesman now said; "We have already implemented all the recommendations made by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch as a result of the incident in December 2017, as the report acknowledges."

The Pride of Kent was built in 1991 and started on the Dover-Calais route in 2003.