Geograph - photograph every grid square

Weather conditions in Northern Ireland were particularly severe on the 22nd-24th March 2013, with low temperatures, snow and gale force easterly winds. The Belfast-Heysham ferry 'Stena Precision' Link left Belfast for Heysham on the morning of Thursday 22nd with 32 trailers onboard but was immediately forced to seek shelter and anchor in Belfast Lough, although she later also sought shelter off the Scottish coastline. During this time her port anchor became snagged on 2 old anchors and long lengths of chain and she was prevented from returning to Belfast (the ship was dragged along by the strong winds which made her own anchor more prone to picking up debris). On the afternoon of the 25th March she proceeded into Bangor Bay and the 'MCS Ailsa' Link came from Belfast to assist her: crew on the bow attempted to use a blowtorch to cut the chains free. This was unsuccessful but they tried again 24 hours later on the afternoon of 24th March. This attempt was again unsuccessful and they had to abandon the entire port anchor into the sea and the 'Stena Precision' eventually docked at Belfast on the evening of the 24th March. The anchor was recovered from the sea the next day by the 'MCS Ailsa'. The 'Stena Precision' and the 32 trailers finally made it into Heysham on Monday 25th March.
See also this short YouTube video: Link