P&O to launch probe over ferry incident

P&O Ferries has said a full investigation will be carried out after a vessel travelling between Cairnryan and Larne lost power off the Co Antrim coast.

The European Causeway, which can carry 410 passengers, was adrift five miles off the coast of Larne in Northern Ireland for more than an hour yesterday, according to tracking website Marine Traffic.

The website stated the vessel’s automatic identification system status had been set to “not under command”, which is reserved for use when a vessel is “unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel”.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said it had been a temporary issue and the European Causeway was travelling to Larne “under its own propulsion”.The spokesperson said: “There are no reported injuries on board and all the relevant authorities have been informed. Once in dock a full independent investigation will be undertaken.”

An RNLI spokesperson said: “Three RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch this afternoon to assist a passenger ferry in difficulty.”

P&O said that the vessel had been affected by a “mechanical issue”.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union called the reports “deeply concerning, not least for the agency crew and passengers”.

The ship had been detained at Larne after an initial inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on March 25 uncovered 31 safety failings.

This was due to safety concerns after the company sacked nearly 800 seafarers and replaced them with cheaper agency workers.