A SHIP was forced to abandon an attempt to dock at Great Yarmouth’s Outer Harbour this week raising fears over safety conditions at the facility.

The Arklow Viking had to weigh anchor off the coast in the early hours of Tuesday morning due to wind and water conditions.

It is the first reported incident of a ship failing to berth at the Outer Harbour since it opened in February.

The ship abandoned an attempt to berth after arriving in port at 4am and weighed anchor about an hour later

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk the Arklow Viking captain Hans Cadee said: “The Outer Harbour looked like a swimming pool, but there was considerable swell.

“There was too much movement and pitch and roll to be safe for loading. Ropes can break and the ship and loading installations damaged, so docking was aborted.

“The Outer Harbour is completely exposed to the easterly wind from North Sea which can affect even the bigger ships.

“I cannot comment on conditions previously as it was my first time in the Outer Harbour.”

The Arklow Viking weighed anchor at 5am before a pilot came on-board to guide the 3,000 tonne cargo ship to a berth on South Denes about three hours later.

The Dutch registered cargo ship was carrying a consignment of grain and is due to leave port for France this week.

The website of Outer Harbour owners East Port states that the facility is “designed to service a range of vessels” and provides “easy access at all states of tide.”

No-one was avialable to comment from East Port at the time of going to press.