| UK. Passengers take to lifeboats as cruise ship Calypso catches fire in English Channel |
|
|
|
| Saturday, 06 May 2006 | |
|
Coastguard news: Dover Coastguard is assisting a passenger ship, Calypso, which has a fire in its engine room. The vessel has 708 people onboard – 246 crew and 462 passengers. The ship broadcast a mayday message at 4.00 am. Dover Coastguard has alerted the Marine Incident Response Group, which responds to incidents at sea, and search and rescue units are now on scene. These are: Coastguard helicopter India Juliet Hastings, Eastbourne, Newhaven and Shoreham lifeboats French lifeboats and helicopters Coastguard tug, Anglian Monarch Other merchant vessels in the area Air Rescue Co-ordination Centre Kinloss have been informed and are activating air assets. Spike Hughes, Dover Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centre manager said: “A fire fighting team is onboard the Coastguard Rescue helicopter. The team is about to go on board the vessel and assess the situation. The passengers and crew are in lifeboats on the vessel as a precautionary measure, in case they are required to evacuate. However, the crew is fighting the fire and it appears to be coming under control.” The vessel is Cypriot flagged and crewed. It has mainly British passengers onboard and was on route from Tilbury to St Peterport when the incident happened 20 miles south west of Beachy Head.” |
|
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 May 2006 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|