Brittany Ferries’ cruise-ferry Pont-Aven caught fire off the French coast in the early morning hours of April 29.
The fire started in the vessel’s engine room, the Maritime Prefecture of Atlantic informed.
[ #CommuniquéDePresse ] ➡ https://t.co/0m23Mr0z0X Incendie à bord du navire à passagers @BrittanyFerries “Pont-Aven” à 77 nautiques (environ 142 kilomètres) au sud de la pointe de #Penmarch #Finistère @SGMer pic.twitter.com/yxDS6BJy6a
— Premar Atlantique (@premaratlant) April 29, 2019
The incident occurred about 100 nautical miles south of Brest while the ship was sailing through the Bay of Biscay, on its crossing from Plymouth to Santander.
A navy helicopter with a team of firefighters and an evaluation and intervention team on board as well as rescue tug were sent to the scene.
The fire was quickly brought under control.
“The ship is carrying 766 passengers with 142 staff and there were no injuries as a consequence of the incident,” Brittany Ferries said in a statement.
The company added that the vessel is now making way under its own steam for the port of Brest where “comprehensive checks” will be carried out. The ferry is scheduled to arrive in Brest at around 16:00 (local time) today.
Pont-Aven entered service in 2004 and is the largest cruise-ferry in the Brittany Ferries fleet. With a capacity for up to 2,400 passengers and 650 cars, the ship serves routes between France and the UK, France and Ireland and the UK and Spain.