THIS year marks the 90th anniversary of one of the most remarkable episodes in the history of Largs Pier when a huge container ship drifted from Rothesay bay and ‘miraculously’ arrived at the harbourside.

A drill ship recently broke its moorings at Hunterston terminal, raising concerns that it could have struck Cumbrae if it hadn't anchored.

It echoed the dramatic incident on February 12 1931 when a giant cargo boat weighing 6,000 tonnes broke from her moorings in Rothesay and was driven across the bay by a fierce south westerly gale - before landing safely at Largs Pier.

The astonishing photo appeared in The Evening Times with the headline 'Miracle at Largs' and was taken by press photographer Tom Arnott.

The evening before at 11pm, The Balgowan, which only had three men on board, started to drag her moorings and at 2.30am these parted from the ship.

The trio were helpless to steer a safe course and the steamer drifted at the mercy of the gale.

Chief officer Mr J.L Nicol said at the time: “The manner in which the Balgowan drifted alongside Largs Pier without human aid was a most remarkable happening. I thought nothing could prevent us from running aground on the Cumbrae or Ayrshire coast, and for a time, it was probable that we would strike the north end of Cumbrae.

“So it was with the greatest relief that I saw us coming alongside the Largs Pier. We took the pier like a Clyde steamer, coming in broadside, and not the slightest damage was done to the structure or the ship.”

The current had a big say in the remarkable course which led to the vessel drifting to safety alongside Largs Pier at 1.30am.

A local man, William Morris, out for an early morning walk, was astonished to see the huge ship towering high at the shore. When he went down to the pier, the watchmen threw ropes and he helped tie up the vessel to bollards.

Due to the size of the cargo ship, there was not sufficient water at the pier for her to float at all stages of the tide, so she rested on the bottom before low tide at 1pm.

Three tugs arrived and managed to get her moving, after which she was taken up the river, Captain W.S Ure of Largs being engaged to navigate her.

The Balgowan was launched in 1917 from the yard of Messrs Doxford and Son in Sunderland.

It was certainly a well journeyed ship having already been to Australia, but had been laid up in Glasgow prior to anchoring in Rothesay due to the depression.

On a voyage from New Brunswick in Canada to Liverpool in February 1942, with a cargo of wheat, the ship met a sad end as she struck a rock, broke in two and sank 20 miles from Halifax.