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Fire on board cross-Channel ferry Ferry suffers overheating problem
(about 2 hours later)
A cross-Channel ferry carrying 58 people has safely reached the Port of Dover after an electrical fire caused a blackout and power failure. An emergency operation was on standby for a ferry in the middle of the English Channel after the coastguard received reports of a fire on board.
The SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais was 12 miles off the English coast when the fire caused its navigation and engine control systems to shut down. But SeaFrance said the incident on Wednesday involving its Nord Pas-de-Calais vessel was only an overheating generator transformer.
But its engines were restarted and it was sailing again within 20 minutes of the incident, Dover Coastguard said. Coastguard surveyors were said to be ready to board the ferry after it docked at the Port of Dover.
There were no reports of any injuries to passengers or crew members. The lorry-carrier had 58 freight passengers and crew on board.
The Marine Incident Response Group would have sprung into action immediately Dover Coastguard spokesman There were coastguard reports on Wednesday afternoon of the ferry sailing being interrupted by a power failure caused by a small electrical fire.
The ferry, sailing from Calais to Dover, was carrying freight drivers rather than foot passengers. But SeaFrance said: "A transformer connected to one of the generators overheated and this was dealt with by qualified staff immediately.
Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will board the vessel to investigate the incident. "It was not necessary to stop the sailing and the ship is continuing in service."
The fire was reported to Dover Coastguard at 1335 GMT on Wednesday. The Nord Pas-de-Calais was running between the French port and Dover.
A spokesman said the emergency services were ready to fly out to the scene, but it became clear in less than 10 minutes that the situation was under control.
"We had to find out how bad it was, and then the Marine Incident Response Group (MIRG) would have sprung into action immediately," he said.
Launched in April, MIRG is a nationwide unit which is specially trained to deal with large-scale emergency incidents at sea.
Fire, police, ambulance and coastguard teams can be deployed by helicopter at short notice.