Dramatic moment cargo ship almost hits 135-foot tall lighthouse

The vessel, bound to Belgium from southern Ireland, had suffered engine failure

Monday 10 July 2023 17:37 BST

The incident happened eight miles off the British coast (SWNS)

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This is the dramatic moment a huge cargo ship came close to hitting a 135-foot tall lighthouse - eight miles off the British coast on Monday morning.

The 640-foot-long Roll-on-Off (RO) vessel Mazarine hit rocks close to the Wolf Rock lighthouse off Land’s End, Cornwall, according to reports.

The vessel, bound to Belgium from southern Ireland, had suffered engine failure.

The RNLI sent two lifeboats to stand-by as a salvage tug and a Coastguard helicopter headed towards the stricken vessel.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard is coordinating the response after a vessel off the Isles of Scilly reported losing power near Wolf Rock lighthouse.