A fire-damaged Danish North Sea passenger ferry with 884 people on board has resumed its journey to Norway after the crew extinguished fires and restarted the engines, its owner, DFDS Seaways, said.
"At 12:30 a.m. the fire was totally put out by the crew. At 2:50 a.m. the vessel could continue her voyage under her own, though reduced, power towards Kristiansand," the company said in a statement early today.
DFDS spokesman Mr Richard Berg-Larsen said that no evacuation was expected of the roll-on/roll-off Princess of Scandinavia's126 crew and 758 passengers.
British Coastguard spokeswoman Ms Fiona Warren said contingency plans had been made for a large tug to come out and take the 22,528 gross tonne ferry under tow if necessary.
"The fire began between the two engine rooms and spread to the funnel. It was contained, isolated and has now been put out," she said.
Coastguard spokesman Mr Mark Clark said earlier that seven helicopters had been scrambled and several nearby ships and oil rigs put on standby in case it became necessary to evacuate the ferry.
Three passengers were suffering from shock, but there were no other injuries, he said.
Clark said the 26-year-old ferry had been on the way from the northeast England port of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Gothenburg in Sweden via Kristiansand, its regular route, when the fire broke out.
Lloyds Casualty Reporting Service said a total of 20 ships and five oil rigs had been put on alert to respond if the ship had had to be evacuated.
The ferry sails under the Danish flag. It was built in 1976 and refitted in 1991, according to DFDS Seaways. It can carry up to 1,500 passengers.