The Brittany Ferries ro-ro ferry
mv Quiberon sailed from Plymouth
Millbay Docks towards Roscoff in Brittany at 0800 BST. A fire was reported from the engine room around 1115.
The
Mayday call was relayed by
Lands End Radio to
Falmouth RCC and at least 2 Sea Kings were launched from
RNAS Culdrose, while an RAF Nimrod was directed to provide on-scene coordination. Two French Navy helicopters were also launched and 11 others (including British Army Lynx and Royal Air Force Chinooks) were put on standby, in case an evacuation of the over 1200 passengers became necessary.
In the event, the fire was extinguished after about an hour by the crew, with the loss of one life and several injuries, and she was towed to Roscoff.
