§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the fire on board B & I ferry Norrona en route from Pembroke dock to Ireland on Monday 9 April, and the subsequent involvement of the rescue services.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAt 2319 GMT on 8 April, the Master of the B & I chartered ferry Norrona, outward bound from Pembroke Dock for Rosslare, called Milford Haven Coastguard reporting a fire on board. The Coastguard immediately scrambled a rescue helicopter from RAF Brawdy, launched St. Davids and Fishguard lifeboats and made arrangements for a fire-fighting team from Dyfed county fire brigade to be airlifted to the ferry. It then became known that there were injured persons on board requiring evacuation. Additional helicopter help was requested: a further one from RAF Brawdy and one, with a doctor on board, from RNAS Culdrose.
Approximately one and a half hours after reporting the fire, the master indicated that it had been extinguished. The ferry returned to Pembroke Dock under her own power. The fire officers remained on board the ship up until she docked at 0315 GMT. Ambulances stood by at the dock to transport other injured persons to hospital.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by an inspector from marine accident investigation branch and, as arson is suspected, by the police.