When a video emerged last night of the PRINCESS SEAWAYS I thought she was simply struggling to turn in high winds. It now appears she actually broke her moorings and was swept away from her berth. Fortunately, it seems she had steam up and quickly got her starboard anchor down. She had arrived late that morning but her sailing (due 5.00pm) was then long delayed until after 3.00am. There will therefore be a delay on her return trip. See: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/lo ... -1-7598078 and elsewhere.
On 29 November 2015 she broke her moorings at the North Shields ferry terminal in high winds and was adrift broadside across the river off Northumbrian Quay before being remoored.
Spending a boring Sunday afternoon thinking "there's nothing much due to happen on the river today - I'm not going out in that" - probably would have taken a different view in our (distant) youth.