'FUNDAMENTAL failures' in the way in which UK port safety is governed have been exposed by a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report, NUMAST has warned.

Carried out in response to the grounding of the Italian-flagged ferry Sardinia Vera in Newhaven in January, the report reveals that the incident was part of a series of 13 significant reportable accidents involving Transmanche Ferries in the port in less than four years.

Ten of the accidents were groundings or near-groundings, and three were collisions and contacts.

Pointing to a series of failures that prevented a proper assessment of the risks and effective post-incident analysis, the report accuses the port operator of being 'apparently unable or unwilling to ensure an adequate level of safety was maintained'.