But as the situation was not an emergency, the 200 people onboard were forced to remain there for 30 hours before being taken off one by one.
Emergency chutes and quick-launch boats are available for life-threatening situations but Stena say this wasn't one of those moments.
A Stena spokesperson said: "Life saving equipment is meant exactly for that purpose and whilst it was a difficult situation for passengers and staff, at no stage was there any threat of that nature.
"At all times Stena Line worked under the guidance and with the approval of the emergency services and marine authorities."
The passengers were stuck in Stranraer Harbour after the lorry plunged through rear doors five miles out of port, forcing the boat to turn around and leaving it unable to dock due to the position of the lorry.
Plastic slides similar to those used on aeroplanes are onboard the vessel in case of fire or sinking but once used, can cost several hundred thousand pounds to replace.
Neville Wright of Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service said that he had been in discussion with the correct authorities at the time of the incident to determine if this would be possible.
He added that it was one of the first things he asked when he arrived on the scene but was advised that it would be too costly.
Instead, the passengers were plucked from the vessel at the rate of one every ten minutes using a 'cherry picker' provided by the fire service.
An online forum after the incident has heralded hundreds of comments about the incident, and one person who had been on board said: "I wish we could have been taken off sooner but using the slides was not an emergency as lives were not at risk. There is the real risk of injury sometimes severe using these things and the safest option was for us passengers to remain onboard the ferry until we could be safely taken off. I understand that."But another said: "I think the delay in taking us off was ridiculous, we could see the little boat being launched and people coming on and going off but we weren't allowed.
"I missed my mum and dad's wedding anniversary dinner and it was so frustrating being able to see the dock but not disembark. Stena staff were great but it's annoying to know those slides were there and we could have been off within an hour."