Ferry carrying 183 people was halfway across the English Channel when a fire broke out in its engine room as lifeboats scramble to help those on board

• Emergency services sent three lifeboats out to the Irish Ferries ship this evening
• The blaze is understood to have broken out in the engine room of the ship 

A ferry carrying 183 people has caught fire in the English Channel – as lifeboats scramble to help those on board.

HM Coastguard sent three lifeboats out to Irish Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree ship as it made the 21-mile trip from Dover to Calais at around 5.30pm.

The ferry is understood to have been carrying 183 people when the fire erupted – around 94 passengers and 89 crew.

The blaze is said to have broken out in the engine room of the ship, but has since been contained and no injuries have been reported.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: ‘The vessel has confirmed that the fire has been extinguished but it is experiencing technical difficulties. All passengers and crew are accounted for and no injuries have been reported.

‘RNLI Lifeboats from Dungeness, Dover and Ramsgate have been sent along with a French tug. The incident is ongoing.’

One of the three lifeboats despatched to the Irish Ferries ship in the middle of the Channel this evening

The ferry is understood to have been carrying 183 people when the fire erupted – around 94 passengers and 89 crew 

A spokesman for Irish Ferries added: ‘This evening the crew onboard its ship the Isle of Innisfree were alerted to a small fire in the ship’s engine room while the ship was sailing from Dover to Calais. 

‘The ship is carrying 94 passengers and 89 crew and all are safe and accounted for.

‘The Coastguard has been informed and despatched three RNLI lifeboats as a precautionary measure.

‘The vessel is currently safely at anchor, and as the situation is stable, no emergency assistance is expected to be required.’

A statement added: ‘Irish Ferries crews train regularly to deal with incidents at sea, and the company has put its training into action and the fire has been extinguished.

‘Passengers booked on imminent Isle of Innisfree sailings will be transferred to alternative sailings.

HM Coastguard sent three lifeboats out to Irish Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree ship as it made the 21-mile trip from Dover to Calais at around 5.30pm

‘Irish Ferries would like to sincerely apologise to all its passengers for the disruption to their journeys.”

The RNLI added: ‘I can confirm RNLI lifeboats from Ramsgate, Dover and Dungeness have launched to a fire onboard a ferry mid-way between Dover and Calais.’

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