An incident involving a suspected fire onboard the St Faith ferry has prompted an emergency response from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service this afternoon (Sunday).
The alarm was raised at approximately 3.30pm when passengers on the Fishbourne–Portsmouth crossing reported the presence of smoke in the passenger lounge. Promptly responding to the situation, pumping appliances from the Portsmouth area, numbering around six, met the vessel at the Wightlink terminal.
The St Faith, which entered service in 1990, was safely docked in Portsmouth. Passengers arriving in Portsmouth have been allowed to disembark while fire crews board the vessel to investigate the situation and determine the extent of any potential fire.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted and is actively involved in addressing the situation.
In response to the incident, Wightlink has announced the cancellation of several upcoming sailings. The affected sailings include the 16:00, 18:00, and 20:00 departures from Portsmouth, as well as the 17:00, 19:00, and 21:00 departures from Fishbourne. Passengers with bookings on these cancelled sailings will be accommodated on alternative sailings to ensure their travel plans are not severely disrupted.
Wightlink and emergency response teams are working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew members involved in this incident. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
