A FERRY close encounter! Huge ship smashes into a dock and crushes containers when its ramp breaks 

• The collision occurred in the port of Sansouci, in the city of Santo Domingo
• Ropes on the Caribbean ferry 'Kydon' collapsed when ramp was lowered
• Ferry pushed by the current and collided with pier, slamming into containers 

A huge ferry crashed into a pier at a port in the Dominican Republic when its ramp broke.

The collision occurred in the port of Sansouci, in the city of Santo Domingo, the country's capital.

According to reports, the ropes on the Caribbean ferry 'Kydon' collapsed when the ramp was being lowered but it was pushed by the current and collided with the pier, slamming into the containers.

The port authority official statement said: 'There was a situation of breaking one of the cables that was tied to the docks of the pier causing the impact. 

'It resulted in displacement of some containers causing damage to the infrastructure of the perimeter gate of the port and property damage.

'The situation is under control and the operations of the port and those of the Caribbean Ferries remain normal.'

Victor Gomez Casanova, the director of the Dominican Port Authority, said neither the crew nor any passengers were injured and everyone aboard the ferry managed to evacuate the boat without incident.

A video recorded by witnesses showed the moment the ramp moved away and crashed into the containers, while people could be seen running away in panic.

The ferry, operated by Ferries Del Caribe, provides service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. 

The activity of the port is continuing as normal, but the area where the crash took place will remain closed as repairs are carried out.  

Nestor Gonzalez Garcia, the President of the company Ferries Del Caribe, said the emergency protocol was activated and worked properly which prevented anyone being injured.

He also said the boat will resume service again in around two weeks as it was not badly damaged.  

It had only recently resumed service on May 3 after the fire on the Caribbean Fantasy last August put the service on hold.