Remembrance: 25 years after the Piper Alpha disaster
A service of remembrance was held to mark 25 years since the Piper Alpha disaster. 167 men were killed in an explosion on the oil platform.
Helicopter ditches in North sea
All the passengers and crew from a helicopter that ditched in the North Sea have arrived safely back on land after a dramatic rescue.
North Sea gas leak spreading
A leak at the Elgin platform, has left a cloud of gas stretching for miles across the North Sea
Live updates
Police question passengers over ferry blaze
Police are questioning passengers on a North Sea ferry to establish how a fire started which led to an emergency rescue.
Six people had to be winched off the ship after they breathed in smoke. One passenger suspected of starting the fire in a cabin room has been detained on board.
Northumbria Police are now believed to be dealing with the incident.
Passenger ‘forced to evacuate outer deck’
A passenger on the ferry which has been forced to dock after a fire started on board has described the scenes on the ship.
Olivia Elliott told Sky News: "We were all sat upstairs when the alarm went off and the captain came on the tannoy and told us to evacuate to the outer deck because there was a fire.
"We were out there for about 40 minutes and then we had to wait in the nightclub area.
"We are now back in our rooms. We don't know when we will be allowed to leave the ship."
Advertisement
Police pictured arriving at ferry terminal after fire
Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb has posted pictures of police vans arriving at the DFDS ferry terminal after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry on the North Sea.
Four police vans arrive at DFDS ferry terminal where MS King Seaways has docked after fire. Passenger detained http://t.co/bPj0Sfa3Tl
Fire engine has arrived. DFDS say 4 crew, 2 passengers air lifted to hospital. Coastguard says 7 ppl air lifted http://t.co/6PHG1hvvv4
Ship staff detain passenger over ferry blaze
A passenger suspected of starting a fire on board a ferry in the North Sea sparking an emergency evacuation has been detained by ship staff, Humberside Police have said. Inspector Andrew Dixon said:
At approximately 11pm the Maritime and Coastguard agency informed Humberside Police that a passenger ferry en route from Newcastle to Holland had suffered an incident whereby a passenger is believed to have set fire to a cabin.
It is unknown if the fire was started deliberately or accidentally. As a result of this incident the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred, be it deliberate or accidental, has been detained by ship staff and the ship was returning to its dock in Newcastle.
Six taken to hospital after ferry fire on the North Sea
Two passengers and four crew members have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out on board a ferry on the North Sea, ferry company DFDS Seaways said tonight.
In a statement, a spokeswoman said:
Yesterday, Saturday 28 December, a fire broke out in a passenger cabin on the DFDS Seaways cruise ferry King Seaways, which was en route from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
We can confirm that there were 946 passengers and 127 crew members onboard. Fifteen passengers and eight crew members are reported to have suffered from smoke-related injuries. They have been checked by a doctor onboard, and two passengers and four crew members have been taken ashore by helicopter for further medical assistance at a local hospital in the UK.
Passenger detained after fire breaks out on ferry
A person suspected of setting fire to a cabin on a passenger ferry tonight has been detained, Humberside Police has said.
Police were called at 11pm when the fire broke out on the ferry heading to Holland. The force added that it was not sure if the fire was deliberate.
Advertisement
Ferry returns to North Shields after rescue mission
A passenger ferry on the North Sea in which seven people were rescued from after a fire broke out is now on its way back to the International Ferry Terminal at North Shields, Tyneside, where the damage will be assessed, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said.
Spokeswoman Jo Rawlings said:
The ferry is now returning to port and is due to arrive back in North Shields between 4am and 5am.
All helicopters and life boats involved have been stood down, however Humber Coastguard is in constant contact with the ferry and an RAF helicopter is on stand-by should it need further assistance.
Six crew members and passenger rescued from ferry
Six crew members and a passenger have been airlifted to hospital after a fire on board a ferry approximately 30 miles north east of Flamborough Head, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said.
MS Kings Seaways reported that they had a fire in one of the passenger accommodation blocks, but it had been brought under control and was now out.
Seven rescued from passenger ferry on the North Sea
Seven people were rescued off a North Sea ferry after breathing in smoke when a fire broke out 30 miles from land, the Coastguard said.
The MS King Seaways had 946 passengers on board and a crew of 127 when a fire broke out in one of the passenger accommodation blocks soon after 10pm last night.
Bev Allen, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "We have been in close contact with the MS King Seaways this evening and sent resources to assist in the evacuation of those passengers and crew that were showing signs of smoke inhalation.
"We are now in discussion with the ferry to decide the next best course of action."
RNLI lifeboats stood down from ferry blaze rescue
The RNLI has said it has stood down assistance of a ferry blaze on the North Sea, after saying it would send two lifeboats earlier.
Both RNLI lifeboats have now been stood down from the rescue operation of ferry passengers off Flamborough Head