Ferry fire puts all emergency services on alert at Harwich Harwich, Walton andFrinton and Aldeburgh East and South East Divisions Four lifeboats, three helicopters, three tugs and a harbour launch were despatched to the passenger and cargo ferry Nordic Ferry on 24 March 1988 when a fire in the engine room immobilised her a mile SW of the South Bawdsey Light Buoy.

The 18,700-ton vessel was en route from Zeebrugge to Felixstowe, with 348 passengers and crew on board, when Harwich Harbour Operations were first informed of her predicament at 0605. No assistance was asked for at the time as the fire was believed to be out.

At 0710, with the vessel now anchored, the master reported the bulkheads were still hot, and asked for the fire services to attend. A fire tug and patrol launch were sent to the casualty, and because of the possibility of a large scale evacuation from the ferry the emergency plan 'Harwichcap' was activated, with all emergency services alerted.

At 0738 Harwich's Atlantic 21 and 44ft Waveney John Fison were launched, followed by Walton and Frinton's 48ft 6in Solent City of Birmingham at 0741 and Aldeburgh's 37ft Rother James Cable at 0805.

The lifeboats closed the casualty in a SW gale, which was veering W, and having received confirmation that the fire was out, stood by while the electrical system and engine were tested.

Withdraw At about 1000 the master of the Nordic Ferry asked for the lifeboats to withdraw to Harwich Harbour and to stand by there, as their presence was apparently causing anxiety among the passengers.

By 1022 the ferry was under tow to Felixstowe by tug - berthing safely at midday, when the four lifeboats were released.

The last lifeboat did not reach her home station until 1530, by which time some 130 lifeboat crew man-hours had been spent at sea..