SUSPECTED FIRE ON ST FAITH SEES FIRE CREWS RUSH TO WIGHTLINK TERMINAL

A suspected fire onboard St Faith has prompted crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to rush to the Wightlink terminal in Portsmouth this afternoon (Sunday).

This article first appeared in the Island Echo – https://www.islandecho.co.uk/suspected-fire-on-st-faith-sees-fire-crews-rush-to-wightlink-terminal/

The alarm was first raised to those on the Fishbourne – Portsmouth crossing at around 15:30 after passengers made reports of smoke in the passenger lounge.

Pumping appliances from the Portsmouth area – around 6 of them – met the boat – which first came into service back in 1990 – as she docked.

Island Echo understands that those arriving at Portsmouth have been allowed to disembark whilst fire crews board the vessel in attempts to ascertain what’s going on.

As a result of the incident, Wightlink has announced that the 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00 from Portsmouth and the 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00 from Fishbourne have been cancelled.

Booked customers are to be moved to alternate sailings.

UPDATE ON MONDAY – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have said that following investigation it was found to be a false alarm, with the smell of smoke being attributed to fumes from an electrical light.