Brittany Ferries’ cruise-ferry Pont-Aven caught fire off the French coast in the early morning hours of today, according to the Maritime Prefecture of Atlantic.
The fire started in the vessel’s engine room 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 and they brought the fire 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 said 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.
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