In 1947 the 10,000 ton Port Royal Park collided with the Pier. Strong winds and strong tides caused the vessel to collide with the Pier. The bows of the ship landed only a few feet from the Pavilion where a dance was taking place. The significant damage saw the Pier closed for two years and cost £28,000 in repairs - nearly all the decking had been shattered and over seventy supporting columns were damaged. The Pier re-opened in 1949, after two years of severely reduced income and repair work.