UPDATE: The Tilbury to Gravesend ferry service is now operating as normal.

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Passengers have spoken of their shock after a giant cruise ship hit a tiny passenger ferry at Tilbury Docks on Wednesday night.

The gigantic CMV cruise ship Magellan went into the ferry just off its landing jetty at Tilbury Docks at about 7pm.

Following the incident, the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry service was suspended "until safety checks are carried out.”

A spokesman for Cruise and Maritime Voyages said the ship was affected by a "strong gust of wind" which caused it to come into "minor contact" with a local ferry.

Investigations were ongoing with the authorities, the spokesman said.

A spokesman for Cruise and Maritime Voyages said: "CMV confirms that the cruise ship M/V Magellan, while departing from the Port of Tilbury at around 5pm on August 3 2016, was affected by strong gust of wind with the result that the M/V Magellan coming into very minor contact with a local ferry.

"CMV understands that no passengers were injured in this accident and that damage to the ferry is limited to superficial to the ferry’s paint.

"CMV has from the outset cooperated fully with authorities and investigations are ongoing."

The ferry usually carries between 10 and 40 foot passengers between Tilbury and Gravesend.

Keith Harrington, of the Willows, Little Thurrock, had just disembarked from the ferry when he witnessed the collision.

He said: “It was really scary. I got off the ferry and was just driving up to the Worlds’ End pub to watch the ferry leave.

“The ferry should have stayed moored up. After the cruise ship hit her, I thought she was going to turn over. She doesn’t sit well on the water, I thought the wash would turn her over.

“I was thinking, God, if she sinks, it’s a fast-flowing river.

“But luckily they managed to get past each other. They were so close, it was scary.

“I watch a lot of boats go past here and I’ve never seen the ferry get that close to a big ship or a cruise ship. It nearly sunk her.”

A spokesman for the council said the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry service had to be suspended until “safety checks were completed.”

The spokesman said: “Due to a cruise ship striking the ferry last night, the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry service is temporarily suspended until safety checks are completed and the authorities are happy that the vessel is able to resume usual service.”

The Port of London Authority has been contacted as to how the collision took place.