EMERGENCY services were alerted after a cargo ship ran aground at Greenock.
Dutch container vessel Encounter, with 12 people on board, was approaching the Ocean Terminal just after 6pm on Monday when the incident happened.
She got stuck on a sandbank shortly before low tide just off the Esplanade.
Around 8.30pm two tugs were able tow the 7,600-tonne ship afloat. Coastguard rescue teams and fire and rescue crews – including an environmental protection unit – had stood by on shore until the all clear was given. Encounter has gone along side at the Ocean Terminal. Clyde Coastguard said it appeared there was no damage to the 136-metre-long ship and they were waiting to speak to the captain to find out what had happened.
It proved an eventful trip to Greenock for Encounter as the vessel had suffered an engine problem south of the Isle of Man early on Sunday on its way to the Clyde.