A PASSENGER ship has escaped undamaged after it ran aground on the west coast of Scotland.
Dive teams were yesterday inspecting the vessel, the Serenissima, which became lodged on sand and gravel in Oban Bay last night.
None of the 61 passengers or 51 crew members were injured during the incident.
The 300ft vessel was kept anchored during an inspection which found no damage. There was also no reported pollution.
A classification surveyor was carrying out some final checks last night before giving the ship the go-ahead to continue sailing.
The vessel ran aground at a spot known as the Corran Ledge as it made its way from Ireland to the port of Oban.
Strong winds hampered initial attempts by the crew and the Oban RNLI lifeboat team to rescue it, but it was eventually re-floated at about 1.10am.
Another ship, the Vos Protector, also ran aground in Fraserburgh harbour in the north-east of Scotland.
Aberdeen Coastguard and a Fraserburgh lifeboat managed to tow the boat back to the harbour.
A coastguard spokesman said: "No-one was injured, but it shows how even small changes in the tide can cause problems."
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