Scottish ferry runs aground following engine room fire; all on board rescued

UK news outlets have reported that a passenger ferry suffered an onboard fire and then ran aground shortly afterwards in Scotland’s Orkney Islands on Saturday, April 29.

The Pentland Ferries-operated Ro-Pax ferry Pentalina ran aground near the village of St Margaret’s Hope shortly after a blaze ignited on board at around 19:30 local time on Saturday.

Rescue teams from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) later arrived in the area and safely evacuated all 60 passengers as the grounded ferry started taking on water. No injuries have been reported.

Pentland Ferries said the fire ignited in the engine room. An MCA spokesperson added that the blaze was later safely extinguished.

In a related press release, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said that a thorough investigation will be needed to establish how this “major incident” occurred.