On the brink… of disaster! 80-ton ship teeters on the edge of Somerset slipway

This is the nail-biting moment an 80-ton ship teeters on the edge of a slipway after being caught out by tide. 

The Severn Sins vessel got stranded at Knightstone Slipway in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset last night. 

The boat, from Falmouth, Cornwall was helping with the RNLI’s restoration of Birnbeck Pier.  

It was carrying machinery and scaffolding to be assembled at the mainland end of the pier to inspect the abutment wall and pier bearings. 

However, its crew fell foul of the tide and became grounded on the pedestrian slipway leading down to the water’s edge.

It was stuck for several hours waiting for a coastguard team to free it at high tide later that night. 

Eventually Weston Coastguard Rescue Team was able to help the ship to refloat.  

They said it was a ‘rather dangerous situation as the vessel would be using engine and winch power to clear its predicament’ and added that some members of the team were even prepped with life jackets. 

The operation also joined the Avon and Somerset Police.  

Weston Coastguard Rescue Team  on a post on Facebook: ‘Fortunately, a text book operation took place, high water hit the hull, the engines fired up and the winch gently hauled, and within minutes she was back where she belonged.   

‘Well done to all involved and thank you to all the spectators for being so understanding- this is not a sight that Weston sees very often!’

And the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust posted on Facebook that, despite the slight hold-up, work is continuing at the Pier today.