A luxury cruise ship ran aground in Oban Bay after entering the town's harbour on the wrong side of a warning buoy.
Oban RNLI Lifeboat was called out by Stornoway Coastguard but initial efforts to tow the Serenissima free failed, due to a falling tide.
In a scene reminiscent of when the Argyll town's bay became home to a sperm whale for 10 days last month, crowds of people flocked to the esplanade to see the rescue attempt.
The cruise ship was one of two vessels to be grounded in Scottish harbours yesterday: the Vos Protector ran aground yesterday in Fraserburgh harbour.
The Serenissima, an 87-metre vessel, ran aground at the bow at a spot known as the Corran Ledge as it made its way from Ireland to Oban.
It was eventually re-floated at about 1.10am and is now anchored in Oban Bay and will undergo a dive inspection later today.
None of the 61 passengers or 51 crew members was injured during the incident.
Lifeboat Coxswain John Hill said the ship had approached the harbour on the wrong side of an entrance buoy. "The ship went on the wrong side of the buoy, it may well be that it had a problem, to make it go on the wrong side, we don't know yet."
He said he was not aware of any damage to the ship.
Alan MacLeod, who owns Ee-usk Restaurant at the North Pier, Oban, said: "We wondered why the ship wasn't moving and then we realised that it had come inside the buoy and was stuck.
"It's a beautiful boat and it's causing quite a stir, just like the whale did.
"I have seen other boats grounded on that side before, but only small boats, I have never seen a big boat stuck there."
The 59-cabin cruise ship, which can cater for 110 guests, spent many years cruising the Norwegian coast as the Harald Jarl.
Her Norwegian owners Hurtigruten then sold the vessel to Elegant Cruises in 2002 and, after a substantial refit in Sweden she began a new life as Andrea and undertook worldwide cruising.
Last year, her new joint owner, Serenissima Cruises, announced a major refurbishment prior to her commencing cruises again this season.
The cabins are equipped with air conditioning, showers, phones and flat-screen televisions.
It has different grades of cabin, arranged over five decks and with the exception of the five inside cabins, all staterooms feature either windows or portholes, some of them with balconies.
Other facilities on board include two lounges, library with computers for internet access, a spacious observation deck, fitness area, laundry service, first aid, massage and an elevator.
At Fraserburgh, the Vos Protector, which was carrying 12 people, was leaving the harbour at around 6.10pm when it grounded in the breakwater.
Aberdeen Coastguard and a Fraserburgh lifeboat were on the scene and managed to tow the boat back to the harbour.
A coastguard spokesman said: "It's a strange coincidence to have two large ships run aground at similar times on opposite sides of the country.
"The main thing is that no one was injured but it shows how even small changes in the tide and sea can cause problems and ships need to take care."
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