Two arrests follow North Sea ferry cabin fire

UK TV carried footage of ferry as it returned to port

DECEMBER 29, 2013 — Two men were arrested yesterday by U.K. police after the DFDS Seaways cruise ferry King Seaways was forced to return to port in Newcastle after fire broke out in a passenger cabin when the ship was 30 miles off the U.K. coast en route to Amsterdam.

DFDS Seaways says that the incident happened at around about 22:45 Saturday and that crew acted quickly to contain the fire, which was extinguished within 15 minutes.

DFDS Seaways says there were 946 passengers and 127 crew members onboard. Fifteen passengers and eight crew members were reported to have suffered from smoke-related injuries. They were checked by a doctor onboard, and two passengers and four crew members were taken ashore by helicopter for further medical assistance at a local hospital in the U.K.

Humber Coastguard, U.K. says that the Bridlington and Filey RNLI lifeboats were sent to the scene, along with the search and rescue helicopters from RAF Leconfield and RAF Boulmer and that six crew members and one passenger were airlifted to Scarborough hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.

Passengers were ordered to muster on deck as the blaze was tackled.

According to media reports, a passenger suspected of setting fire to a cabin was detained on board by ship’s staff.

Subsequently, a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson; a 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray — apparently in connection with a fight that broke out during the evacuation of passenger cabins