Ferry crashes into pier in Melbourne

A dramatic video has emerged from Australia of a ferry colliding with a pier after severe winds broke the ship free from its moorings.

The footage, captured by a bystander at Port Melbourne on Wednesday, shows the ship's bow scraping against the pier, with would-be passengers and crew voicing their distress.

According to local reports, witnesses said the ship drifted until it was at a 90-degree angle to Station Pier by about 6pm and collided with part of the pier, causing damage to the front of the vessel.

By 8pm, tugboats had towed the Spirit of Tasmania II back in line with the pier, and it was then secured.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, wind speeds of up to 100km/h were recorded in the region at the time.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident.