Firefighters put out North Sea ferry fire

The fire on the Norsea, a P&O ferry, has been put out.

The Norsea was due to arrive at Zeebrugge tonight, nine and a half hours late, said P&O spokesman Cor Radings.

Most of the passengers were asleep when the fire broke out and they were told to gather at the assembly station where they stayed for a couple of hours as a standard procedure, he said.

The fire was extinguished in about three or four hours.

Mr Radings added: “People are trying to make the best of it. It is not a day they envisaged. They had lunch on board, the bars are open for soft drinks, tea and coffee and there is as much information as possible.

“The mood is ok. They have been informed quite well from the very first moment. Our staff are very professional and well trained and stay very calm and they have been able to keep the passengers very calm.”

The passengers, who are mainly British, were also being offered a full refund.

The 106 day trippers were being offered a return trip tonight via Dover or the option of staying the night in nearby Bruge and returning tomorrow.

The Norsea will be out of service for at least one round trip and is not likely to resume service until Wednesday, Mr Radings said.

An investigation was under way, but it was too soon to speculate on the cause or the extent of the damage, he added.