The vessel “ran over” the ferry in a canal near Amsterdam, reported Dutch state broadcaster NOS, and some passengers had hit the water.

There have been no immediate reports of injuries in the accident but the ferry has capsized and is said to be floating upside down.

The incident took place approximately 10km, or six miles, south of Amsterdam.

Divers are now searching for passengers but so far no-one has been rescued from the canal.

A helicopter has been deployed to search the canal with a thermal imager.

The BBC has reported that the ferry’s skipper is missing. Meanwhile, officials are questioning the captain of the freight ship, which is now moored.

The ferry could carry up to 15 people across the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal waterway. However, it is not known how many people were on the ferry at the time of the incident.

Earlier in the month, a tanker collided with a container ship in the North Sea, causing a fuel spill.

However, the Dutch coastguard confirmed that there had been little environmental damage following the accident and all crew were safe.

Supply Chain Digital will keep you updated on the latest developments from Amsterdam.

Edited by Darrel Moore

For more information about the North Sea collision, click on the article ‘North Sea Collision Causes Fuel Spill’.