Yellow Duckmarine sinks in Albert Dock in Liverpool Published duration 15 June 2013

media caption Eyewitness Tim Olsen: "They only had seconds to get out, it went down very quickly"

Twenty-seven people were treated in hospital after an amphibious tourist craft sank in Liverpool's Albert Dock.

The North West Ambulance Service said 31 people including children were on board the craft when it went down just before 16:00 BST.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said all passengers had been accounted for.

The Yellow Duckmarine tour company said it was working with the coastguard and police to establish what had caused the sinking.

A spokeswoman for the North West Air Ambulance said there had been no serious injuries during the incident at Salthouse Dock at the front of the Albert Dock complex.

Eighteen people were taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital but have since been discharged.

image caption Twenty seven people were treated in hospital

image caption All 31 passengers were accounted for

image caption The incident happened just before 16:00 BST

image caption Eyewitness Tim Olsen said it only took about four minutes to go down

image caption This is the second sinking involving one of the vessels this year

Sue Sadiq, assistant director of nursing, said: "All 18 patients are well enough to now be discharged. Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to patients being cold and wet."

Eyewitness Tim Olsen said: "I was down by the Albert Docks doing some shopping when I noticed something didn't look right about the duckmarine.

"It only took about four minutes to go down. The police, ambulance and air ambulance services arrived on the scene quickly and I think they got everybody off OK."

The incident is the second sinking involving one of the vessels this year.

Valid passenger certificate

All four Yellow Duckmarines were banned from going into water after one sank and passengers had to be moved on to a pontoon on 31 March.

In May, three of the vehicles were declared safe to take to the water again.

In 2012, the Queen had a ride on one of the buses when she visited the region as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour to celebrate 60 years on the throne.

The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson refused to be drawn on the future of the yellow vessels until he knew everybody involved in the latest incident was safe.

He tweeted: "Albert Dock Duck incident, look I will not make any official comment on the future of these ducks until we know people are all OK [and] accounted for."

Yellow Duckmarine said the craft had a valid passenger-carrying certificate and has been moved to a secure location following consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

A spokesman said: "Following the incident involving Quacker 1, we are working closely with our regulatory body, the MCA and Merseyside Police.

"Our team followed their emergency response procedure, ensuring the safe disembarkation of passengers on board.