Dredger destroyed part of Hythe Pier, causing £300k damage

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the incident, which saw the Marchwood-based Donald Redford destroy a 50ft section of the Victorian structure, causing £300,000 of damage.

It happened as hundreds of Saints fans returned to the Waterside after watching their team take on Manchester City at St Mary's.

The Donald Redford crashed into Hythe Pier on November 1 2003, causing major damage to the Victorian structure (Image: Newsquest.)

One of the Hythe to Southampton ferries had just docked at the pier and its narrow gauge electric passenger train had travelled along the jetty shortly beforehand.

Speaking at the time a coastguard spokesman said: "Five minutes earlier and it could have been an absolute disaster."

READ MORE: Dredger destroys part of Hythe Pier as Saints fans return from game at St Mary's

A major search and rescue operation was launched amid fears that ferry passengers were on the pier at the time of the collision.

Firefighters from Hythe, Hardley, and Eastleigh arrived along with police and ambulance crews, after initial reports suggested there were people in the water.

The Donald Redford crashed into Hythe Pier on November 1 2003, causing major damage to the Victorian structure (Image: Newsquest.)

The operation also involved Calshot lifeboat, Hamble's inshore rescue craft, Southampton's coastguard rescue team, and a helicopter equipped with an infra-red camera.

A search was carried out along the shoreline the following day but police confirmed that nothing been found and there were no reports of casualties or missing persons.

The 150ft dredger was re-floated on a high tide and detained by the Marine Accident Board as part of the investigation.

READ MORE: Hythe Ferry suffers 30 per cent drop in customers after dredger smashes into pier

White Horse Ferries, which operated the service at the time, suffered a 30 per cent drop in customers after the collision. Ferries operated from the marina, which was less convenient for passengers, until the pier was repaired.

Emergency services at the scene of the incident, which occurred at 6pm on November 1 2003 (Image: Supplied)

In March 2004 the dredger's skipper was jailed for eight months.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Andrew Bartlett, 37, of Portsmouth, admitted doing an act likely to cause death or serious injury, and causing damage to a structure, whilst under the influence of drink.

Bartlett had been drinking before he took command of the dredger and was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Judge John Boggis told him: "This is an extremely serious matter. It's no thanks to you there were no serious injuries caused. If the Hythe ferry had just arrived the results could have been appalling."

In 2011 Bartlett's body was found beside Baffins Pond in Portsmouth.

The father of two is thought to have fallen into the pond and then dragged himself out before collapsing. He was married but separated.