3 lifeboats from Kent along with a French salvage tug were launched after a fire broke out on a Dover-Calais ferry in the English Channel.
The lifeboats from Dungeness, Dover, and Ramsgate were sent to the Isle of Innisfree (1991-built) owned by Irish Ferries, operating from Dover (England UK) to Calais (France).
The ferry company said the engine room fire had been contained.
Isle of Innisfree (IMO 8908466) was carrying 94 passengers plus 89 crew and was towed by a tugboat towards Calais with the priority to get those onboard to shore.
Travelers booked on imminent Isle of Innisfree sailings were transferred to alternative sailings, Irish Ferries announced. The company apologized to its passengers for the disruption to the journeys.
"Crews train regularly to deal with incidents at sea, and the company has put its training into action and the fire has been extinguished."
Irish Ferries added that once the ferry arrives in Calais, it would launch a "full investigation into the incident in conjunction with the relevant authorities".
According to HM Coastguard, the vessel had confirmed that the fire had been extinguished but it was experiencing technical issues. All passengers and crew were accounted for and no injuries had been reported.