Christian Zemann and his wife Lucy have vowed to resume the vital foot ferry service between Shotley, Harwich and Felixstowe despite suffering a massive blow late on Friday night

Gale force winds pulled the former SS Canberra lifeboat from her mornings at Ha'penny Pier, Harwich, and cast her adrift. A crew from the Harwich Haven Authority managed to secure her and pull her back to the pontoon but she had taken on a lot of sea water and suffered serious damage as she partly submerged.

The couple said in a statement: "We are devastated that this has happened. We have started assessing the damage, but it is clear we can't operate for the rest of the season, which was due to last for another month. Although the ferry took on a lot of water and was half submerged, on Saturday morning the harbour authority were able to tow her to a safe haven. Previously a lifeboat on the SS Canberra, she didn't capsize and is still afloat.

"We are determined to resume our ferry operation next season, save our livelihood and continue to serve the communities of Harwich, Shotley and Felixstowe.

"We are grateful to the team at Harwich Haven Authority, the RNLI and other members of the wonderful community in Harwich who have already rallied around to support us and offered so much practical help and advice.

"Local reaction to this terrible incident has yet again brought home to us how much the Harwich Harbour Ferry is loved by these communities. When we resumed operations after lockdown in mid-May, we were delighted by the demand for trips and happy to be carrying passengers again.

"We were excitedly planning for the future, so the damage caused by the storm has come as a huge blow, but we fight our way back."

The couple also own a seal watching boat, which was securely docked in another part of the pier.

Ferry out of action.