Rosslare-Fishguard Stena Line ferry fire prompts big response

The fire led to a large emergency services callout to Fishguard

Emergency services were scrambled after a fire broke out on a ferry from the Republic of Ireland to Pembrokeshire.

Passengers had to wear life jackets on the Stena Line service between Rosslare and Fishguard on Saturday night.

Ferry crew were able to extinguish an engine room blaze on the Stena Europe, said HM Coastguard.

Stena Line said all 88 passengers and 59 crew were unharmed and got off safely, and the ship has been taken out of service during an investigation.

One passenger, Stephen Kearney, said people were "understandably nervous but very calm".

• Fire onboard Cairnryan to Belfast Stena Line ferry

Water hoses doused down the ferry at Fishguard Harbour

"There was an announcement to the crew, advising it was not a drill and they should take up positions," he said.

"Smoke began to circulate and I could see smoke from the funnel.

"Life jackets were issued and crew members assisted passengers with life jackets," he added.

'Staff obviously very well drilled'

"We're looking out for each other."

He said the Stena staff were "obviously very well drilled and took all appropriate action which included issuing water and supporting people who were frightened.

"I'm a sailor, trained in sea survival so I knew how bad this could have got.

"In fact if it had been very windy in heavy seas you would be reporting a very different and harrowing story."

Passengers on the ferry were told put on life jackets after the fire was discovered

Coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and Moylegrove, RNLI Lifeboats from St David's, Newquay and Fishguard, a coastguard helicopter, Welsh Ambulance Service, an air ambulance, Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were all called out.

The emergency services were initially alerted just before 21:25 GMT when the ferry was approximately two nautical miles off Fishguard Harbour.

The fire was in an engine room on board Stena Europe

Stena Line said the ferry has been "removed from service while we undertake a thorough investigation as to the cause of the incident".

The company also thanked emergency services "who deployed significant numbers of their resources as a precaution".

"We are sorry for any distress and inconvenience this has caused to our passengers," it added.

Stena Line said it had reached an agreement with Irish Ferries to allow passengers to transfer to its Pembroke sailing or transfer to an alternative Stena Line service at a different port.