Disabled freighter towed back to German port after fire

The vehicle carrier MS Thames Highway, which was left disabled off the North Sea island of Borkum after a fire, was towed back to the northern German port of Emden, police said late on Tuesday.

Firefighting crews fully extinguished the blaze and no one was injured, according to Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME).

The ship had been carrying almost 1,300 vehicles, including around 480 electric cars, when it left Emden on Monday evening bound for Grimsby on the east coast of England, the CCME said.

The vessel had not travelled far when the crew discovered flames in the engine room. They sealed off the compartment, preventing the fire from spreading.

Emergency crews were flown to the ship by helicopter and brought the fire under control. The CCME later gave the all-clear, saying all 18 crew members were unharmed and there had been no release of pollutants.

More than 60 responders, four vessels and two helicopters were involved in the operation, with the final emergency personnel flown ashore around midday (1100 GMT) on Tuesday.

A private salvage company towed the ship back to Emden, where it is expected to remain in port for several days. The vessel will not be allowed to sail while damage assessments and repairs are carried out, authorities said.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire. “The cargo was not affected in any way,” a spokesman said, adding that the extent of the damage to the ship remains unclear.