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On the evening of 7th March 2012 the cargo vessel 'Union Moon' Link , outbound from Belfast for Dagenham, was involved in a collision with the ferry 'Stena Feronia' Link , inbound from Birkenhead. The two vessels collided close to the Belfast Fairway Buoy J4385 : Belfast Fairway Buoy (old position) in Belfast Lough. Thankfully nobody on board either ship was injured and both vessels managed to safely make it into Belfast. However, both ships sustained considerable damage - to the bow of the 'Union Moon' and a large hole on the port side of the 'Stena Feronia'.
The incident is now the subject of an investigation by the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch Link ; criminal charges have also been brought against the master of the 'Union Moon' who has been charged with excess alcohol by the master of a ship (and later convicted Link ).
See also Link for a related BBC news story.

The full report on the incident from the M.A.I.B. can be accessed at Link

The Belfast Dry Dock, owned and operated by Harland and Wolff for ship repair purposes.

By the early 1960s it was clear that the largest dock in Belfast, the Thompson Graving Dock (see J3576 : Thompson Graving Dock), was too small for modern tankers and bulk carriers then being constructed. The Harland and Wolff Dry Dock (now known as the Belfast Dry Dock) was constructed between 1965-68 by Charles Brand and Sons to a design by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton. It is 1150 feet long by 160 feet wide and, when constructed, was one of the five largest docks in the world. The dock can accommodate ships up to 200,000gt.

Alongside the dock is Ship Repair Quay (formerly known as Outfitting Wharf). This was constructed some 7 years later in 1975 and has a total lineal quayage of 433 metres. Ships which do not need to be fully dry docked are repaired here.