A FERRY which runs between Gravesend and Tilbury was badly damaged early today when it was struck a Royal Navy minesweeper. The service had to be suspended.

The un-manned Duchess M ferry was moored at Gravesend when it was hit by the HMS Grimsby at around 2.30am. The starboard side was extensively damaged.

It is thought that a man was overboard when the incident happened and Gravesend’s lifeboat station was called into action. But it was eventually established that no one was hurt.

Mike Horrocks, engineer for the Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company who run the ferry, said: “The captain came down this morning and found the boat. We got in touch with the Port Authority and found out that the Grimsby had reported it to them.

“Evidently, it got quite hectic because they had a man overside and called a mayday and the lifeboat got involved.”

The 63 passenger capacity boat that sails between Kent and Essex around 54 times a day is out of use for the rest of the day.

The Duchess M suffered obvious damage to its framework and windows along the side were smashed. The MCA Marine and Coastguard Agency are carrying out a survey to further assess the situation.

Mr Horrocks said: “Once it is surveyed, if they give us the ok, we can probably turn the repairs round pretty quickly. If they are unhappy, however, it may take a little longer.”

He added that it was an inconvenience for the ferry company and for the people who use it on a regular basis as they would have to spend time on the road for a trip that usually takes five minutes on the ferry.

HMS Grimsby is a Sanddown class single role mine hunter thought to have been mapping the riverbed.