Vessels sub got at in error (8)
I believe the answer is:
tugboats
'vessels' is the definition.
(tugboat is a kind of vessel)
'sub got at in error' is the wordplay.
'in error' indicates anagramming the letters.
'sub'+'got'+'at'='subgotat'
'subgotat' anagrammed gives 'TUGBOATS'.
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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