Cruise ship narrowly avoids wiping out stricken dinghy

The occupants of a small rubber dinghy were lucky to be alive after a cruise ship was forced to alter its course to avoid crushing their vessel in Tauranga Harbour.

In this footage, the Celebrity Solstice cruise liner can be seen narrowly missing the dinghy before two other boats rush to the rescue to tow the rubber boat to safety.

NZ Herald reported the cruise ship came within five metres of the inflatable vessel, which was incapacitated at the time, but managed to avoid impact.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council published the footage alongside a warning that boaters were obliged to keep 50 metres from ships on each side and 500 metres ahead.