A crew mix-up over engine power led to the Red Funnel ferry hitting Southampton dockside ramp, injuring passengers and crew, an accident report said today.

It also outlined a string of key safety issues which Red Funnel and port bosses must now put in place to help prevent a similar accident.

The drama happened as the packed ferry Red Falcon approached its berth near Town Quay in March this year.

It hit the ramp sparking a major emergency which led to eight passengers and three crew being injured.

The crash also led to the ferry being out of action for more than two weeks.

The accident happened shortly after 4pm on March 10 and the ferry was carrying 130 passengers and crew, plus 65 vehicles, across the Solent from East Cowes.

An inquiry was immediately launched by the Southampton-based Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which released its finding today.

It said that the accident happened when the chief officer took over the controls from another crew member.

He had not been informed that the master of the vessel had desynchronised the propulsion units driving the two engines.

This meant that approaching the quay, the chief officer thought he was reducing speed by adjusting both units but in fact was only adjusting the aft unit, the report said.

Although speed was reduced, the vessel approached the dockside ramp at a much higher speed than usual.

Informed about the speed, the master remembered the propulsion units were desychronised.

He put the units back into synchronisation but not before contact with the linkspan. As well as the injuries to passengers and crew, some vehicles on board were damaged.

The MAIB said that on the day of the incident the Red Falcon had left East Cowes five minutes late and that the master had hoped to make up some of the lost time by taking his desynchronisation decision.

The MAIB said it had identified a number of key safety issues.

They included the unnecessary risks associated with operating with the propulsion units desynchronised.

The report also highlighted inadequate indication for operating in the desynchronised mode and ineffective bridge handover procedures.

It further called for the need for a safe speed of approach to Southampton's Town Quay.

Actions taken by the Red Funnel Group and the Southampton Harbour Authority should prevent a recurrence of the accident, added the MAIB.