A multi-million-dollar superyacht has crashed while attempting to moor at a Cairns marina, narrowly avoiding a potential disaster on the busy tourist strip.



Key points: Terrified diners on a converted-trawler restaurant at a Cairns marina panicked as a superyacht headed towards them

Terrified diners on a converted-trawler restaurant at a Cairns marina panicked as a superyacht headed towards them One patron who witnessed the incident described it as being like something out of a movie

One patron who witnessed the incident described it as being like something out of a movie After an emergency response, the vessel was guided to its berth alongside the marina

Adrian Hawker, visiting from Victoria, was on the marina admiring the 45-metre luxury vessel Moatize when the mayhem unfolded.

"I thought I'd just watch it dock, but then he went the wrong way," Mr Hawker said.

"It just picked up more speed — next minute I heard this crunch when he hit the little boat and I was just waiting for another big crunch into The Salthouse."

However, the Moatize crew managed to drop anchor, which avoided a collision with the popular waterfront establishment.

'Dinner and a show' aboard restaurant trawler

Terrified diners on a converted-trawler restaurant Prawn Star also feared the worst as the Moatize careered towards them.

"It was scary, people were screaming and very frightened. But no-one was hurt and that's the most important thing," Prawn Star's business manager Kay Green said.

The superyacht after its close call with patrons on a Cairns marina. ( Supplied: Adrian Hawker )

Ms Green said one diner described the near miss as like being from the scene of an action film — restaurant patrons getting both dinner and a show.

"One of the customers said he felt like he had been in an episode of [the movie] Speed 2.

"I offered everyone free beer but they said it was the best entrainment they'd had for years so they weren't really bothered about free beer."

The collision has damaged the berthing pontoon, forcing its closure and the relocation of boats including the Prawn Star.

While the restaurant lost last night's trade, Ms Green praised both her staff and the response from authorities.

"Our crew handled it perfectly, they kept their calm, got everyone off the boats and got everyone settled down and since then the spirit of cooperation has been fantastic," Ms Green said.

Ports North, which operates the marina, is investigating the incident and said it was the result of mechanical issues.

No injuries or fuel spills were reported and after an emergency response the vessel was safely guided to its berth.