This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25539473
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| North Sea passenger ferry hit by fire | North Sea passenger ferry hit by fire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A number of crew members and passengers have been flown to hospital following a fire on board a ferry in the North Sea. | A number of crew members and passengers have been flown to hospital following a fire on board a ferry in the North Sea. |
| A passenger suspected of starting Saturday night's fire off the Yorkshire coast has been detained by ferry staff. | A passenger suspected of starting Saturday night's fire off the Yorkshire coast has been detained by ferry staff. |
| Operator DFDS said two passengers and four crew had been winched off the MS King Seaways - 30 miles off Flamborough Head - with "smoke-related injuries". | Operator DFDS said two passengers and four crew had been winched off the MS King Seaways - 30 miles off Flamborough Head - with "smoke-related injuries". |
| The ferry, which had 946 passengers and 127 crew, returned to North Shields, Tyneside, in the early hours. | The ferry, which had 946 passengers and 127 crew, returned to North Shields, Tyneside, in the early hours. |
| Insp Andrew Dixon of Humberside Police said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had called them at about 23:00 GMT and had said a passenger was "believed to have set fire to a cabin". | Insp Andrew Dixon of Humberside Police said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had called them at about 23:00 GMT and had said a passenger was "believed to have set fire to a cabin". |
| "As a result of this incident, the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred - be it deliberate or accidental - has been detained by ship staff," he added. | "As a result of this incident, the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred - be it deliberate or accidental - has been detained by ship staff," he added. |
| Some 15 passengers and eight staff were checked onboard by a doctor, DFDS added in a statement. | Some 15 passengers and eight staff were checked onboard by a doctor, DFDS added in a statement. |
| It said the fire had started at about 22:45 GMT on Saturday but was extinguished within 15 minutes. | It said the fire had started at about 22:45 GMT on Saturday but was extinguished within 15 minutes. |
| A passenger on board the ferry said she was forced to evacuate to the outer deck when the alarm was raised. | |
| Olivia Elliott told Sky News: "We were all sat upstairs when the alarm went off and the captain came on the tannoy and told us to evacuate to the outer deck because there was a fire," | |
| "We were out there for about 40 minutes and then we had to wait in the nightclub area. We are now back in our rooms." | |
| Meanwhile, Gert Jakobsen - DFDS vice president - said the ferry had been boarded by police and fire investigators, who were speaking to crew members and passengers. | |
| He said the investigation process meant passengers would not be able to disembark until about 08:00 GMT. | He said the investigation process meant passengers would not be able to disembark until about 08:00 GMT. |
| The MCA said it would survey the vessel for any lasting damage. | The MCA said it would survey the vessel for any lasting damage. |
| 'Fairly calm' | 'Fairly calm' |
| The MCA's Jo Rawlings told BBC News that conditions for the rescue had been "fairly calm". | The MCA's Jo Rawlings told BBC News that conditions for the rescue had been "fairly calm". |
| Those winched off the ferry had been airlifted to Scarborough and no-one was seriously injured, she said. | Those winched off the ferry had been airlifted to Scarborough and no-one was seriously injured, she said. |
| Helicopters from RAF Leconfield and RAF Boulmer were sent to the scene. | Helicopters from RAF Leconfield and RAF Boulmer were sent to the scene. |
| Sqn Ldr Dave Webster said that when the RAF had been called for assistance, it was initially thought 23 people would need to be winched to safety but that figure was later downgraded. | Sqn Ldr Dave Webster said that when the RAF had been called for assistance, it was initially thought 23 people would need to be winched to safety but that figure was later downgraded. |
| RAF crew had lifted those affected off the ferry within an hour. | RAF crew had lifted those affected off the ferry within an hour. |
| Ferry operator DFDS Seaways runs a daily 17:00 GMT service from North Shields, arriving in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, at 08:30 GMT (09:30 local time). | Ferry operator DFDS Seaways runs a daily 17:00 GMT service from North Shields, arriving in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, at 08:30 GMT (09:30 local time). |
| According to its website, the 26-year-old MS King Seaways has room for more than 1,500 passengers and 600 cars. It was renovated in 2006. | According to its website, the 26-year-old MS King Seaways has room for more than 1,500 passengers and 600 cars. It was renovated in 2006. |
| It offers entertainment including restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a casino. | It offers entertainment including restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a casino. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |