A fire has broken out in the engine room of the Caesarea Trader freight ship en route from Jersey to Portsmouth.
Media reports from the Isle of Wight suggest the freight ship reported a fire in the vessel’s engine room at around 4.15pm on Monday (9 February).
It had departed St Helier just before 9 o’clock this morning bound for Portsmouth.
The Bembridge RNLI All-Weather lifeboat was launched to assist, along with tug boats sent to the scene from Portsmouth.
A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard is currently responding to an engine room fire on board a cargo vessel at anchor East of Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
"An HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter has been sent to undertake thermal imaging of the vessel.
"Bembridge lifeboat has also been sent, along with tugs from Portsmouth.
"The incident is ongoing."
It’s understood the crew were instructed to abandon ship.
The 126 metre long vessel could be seen on the Marine Traffic radar website sitting off the east coast of the Isle of Wight this evening.
Just after 8pm DFDS issued the following statement:
“We can confirm that Caesarea Trader experienced a fire in the engine room earlier today.
“All crew members and the one passenger who was travelling with the vessel are safe. The vessel is currently anchored in a safe location off the Isle of Wight, and the fire is under control.
“DFDS are making necessary steps to maintain continuity of freight links to Jersey.”
Tomorrow’s arrival of the cargo vessel into St Helier has been cancelled.
The Ro-Ro ship - formerly owned by Condor Ferries and known as the Commodore Goodwill - was bought by DFDS last year and is painted in the company's livery.
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