Horror on the high seas

Eight people injured when a super-yacht collided with a fast ferry just off Andratx late on Thursday night were recovering in hospital last night while marine accident investigators launched a full inquiry. The 35-metre British yacht Auriga was severely damaged as a result of the collision and yesterday she was in dry dock in Palma. The Trasmediterrania ferry Milenium was also damaged and holed and the state ferry company has been forced to re-schedule a number of sailings to the mainland. The accident happened when the Milenium left port in Palma and was on her way to Barcelona when she collided with the Auriga. A major air sea rescue operation was launched and the eight injured were rushed to hospital. Twenty people were aboard the 35-metre yacht (11 Germans, four Britons, three Italians, a Swede and a New Zealander). Eight needed treatment in local hospitals including the captain. The Milenium with 140 passengers aboard, 23 cars and nine lorries, limped back to port in Palma.