More than 200 people spent hours stranded on Moreton Bay on Monday evening, after a ferry bound for Stradbroke Island ran aground in high winds and low tide.
Passengers on the packed Stradbroke Ferries car barge said they felt a jolt as the boat hit a sand bar and came to a halt just after 3.50pm.
Attempts by the company to tow the catamaran off the sand bank proved futile and those on board were warned they might be in for a long night at sea, as they waited for the tide to rise.
However, passengers were able to disembark on the island about three hours later, according to the ferry operator.
In a post on its Facebook page, Stradbroke Ferries said the stranding was caused by unusually high winds.
"Services to North Stradbroke Island will resume as normal tomorrow (Tuesday)," the post said.
"We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers this afternoon which was caused by high winds."
Stradbroke Ferries wishes to advise that the customers and vehicles on board the Big Red Cat have now disembarked at...Posted by Stradbroke Ferries on Monday, December 28, 2015
The barge became stranded just 300 metres from the Stradbroke Island shore.
Wind gauges off nearby Peel Island recorded speeds of up to 53.5km/h at 3.50pm.
The boat ran aground just before the low tide of 53 centimetres, one of the lowest low tides of the year.
- with Judith Kerr
