A FERRY captain has been disciplined and required to undergo a competency check, after narrowly avoiding colliding with a gas tanker on the River Mersey.

In October, a sightseeing trip on the Royal Daffodil to view HMS Illustrious turned to terror for the 450 passengers when the ferry appeared to be just seconds away from crashing with gas tanker Ramira.

An investigation into the incident has now concluded, and the captain and mate have been disciplined as a result. Both are carrying out their duties as normal.

Mersey Ferries said the incident was a “regrettable and isolated lapse” in the firm’s usual high standards, and that it was the first such event in “living memory”.

A spokesman added: “It is equally upsetting for the skipper, who hitherto had a 32-year unblemished record with Mersey Ferries.”

It is understood the captain passed a competency check with the Port of Liverpool Harbour Master following the incident.

The investigation, by the Harbour Master, has established that, despite appearing to be within feet of each other, the vessels were 140ft apart at their closest point.

It is understood this was confirmed using GPS tracking systems.

The incident has been classed as a “close quarters situation”, rather than a near miss.

But Mersey Ferries has been asked by the Harbour Master to draw up written bridge procedures to avoid a repeat in future – a recommendation that has already been acted on.

Mike Wetton, of Marple, near Stockport, took pictures from the top deck of the ferry as it appeared to come close to disaster.

At the time, he said passengers were stunned into silence.

The 55-year-old said: “All we could see was the tanker Ramira getting nearer and nearer. People were very upset. I thought ‘I’m going to go in’ so I took my rucksack off my back.

“When they both took evasive action, everyone went silent and you could have heard a pin drop. It was a very narrow escape.”