AN investigation has been launched after a Red Funnel hydrofoil overshot its mooring and collided with a pontoon.

The Red Jet craft was arriving in Southampton from Cowes when it failed to stop and collided with the Hythe Ferry pontoon at Town Quay.

The Southampton-based Marine Accident Investigation Bureau has now launched an investigation into the crash.

But Red Funnel bosses have denied allegations that the hydrofoil was travelling too fast when the accident happened at 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The craft was carrying 58 people on the trip but no one was injured.

Operations director Tom Docherty said the accident happened as the Red Jet suffered a mechanical failure to a hydraulic pump as she was coming in to her berth, which meant she was unable to stop.

The vessel then overshot the berth and collided with the edge of the pontoon.

One local berth holder, who asked not to be named, said it was not the first time a collision had occurred.

He said: "Over the last two or three years there's been a lot of issues with the Red Jet coming in too quickly to the marina.

"I've written to Red Funnel and had correspondence back from them saying it's because they have 'an historic timetable to meet' and this chap on Tuesday was late."

But Mr Docherty said: "There is absolutely no truth in that.

"It was quite simply the failure of a mechanical component.

"The Red Jet continued to go ahead, but she wasn't going very fast, and she mowed into the railings of the pontoon.

"They sorted themselves out, then got themselves back alongside, and got people home back to the Island.

"There were some delays because we had to take Red Jet One out of service, but by 8pm it was fixed again."

A spokesman for the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau said: "We are in the process of gathering information and it depends what we find as to whether we take the investigation further."

Battle to save historic tug Calshot: Go to the shipping section of 'This is Southampton' by clicking the Shipping link at the top of this page.