The
Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) principal counter pollution
and salvage officer and the Government's maritime salvage and
intervention representative were informed but the tanker's cargo was
not affected by the blaze.
The 13-man crew, on route from Rotterdam in Holland to Petit
Coronne in France, was in no danger and there were no injuries
reported.
Two lifeboats from Eastbourne and Hastings and a firefighting tug
were launched, while a coastguard helicopter circled the ship, using
an infrared camera to search for "hot-spots" on board,
said an agency spokesman.
The engine room blaze was successfully extinguished by the ship's
fire system before rescue crews arrived on the scene, a spokesman
for Dover Coastguard said.
He said the 13-man crew, unharmed in the incident, was still
aboard and waiting for a tug to pull the ship to Rotterdam.
Dover coastguard watch manager Gordon Wise said the vessel's
sister ship, ‘Ellen Theresa’, had stopped close by to offer
whatever help was needed.
Other vessels in the area were instructed to steer clear of the
danger zone.
