A fire occurred in the engine room of the cargo vessel Caesarea Trader off the Isle of Wight, but emergency services quickly contained the situation, according to HM Coastguard. The ship was successfully towed to Portsmouth Port, where firefighting crews continued to manage the incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The incident took place around 15:45 GMT on Monday, east of Shanklin, and by 22:00, authorities confirmed that all 24 crew members were safe. Operated by DFDS, the Caesarea Trader typically travels between Portsmouth and the Channel Islands. A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter conducted thermal imaging assessments to ensure no remaining risks, while tugs from Portsmouth and the Bembridge RNLI lifeboat assisted in containment efforts.
Originally named Commodore Goodwill, the vessel was reflagged under UK registration in 2025 and can transport up to 1,250 m³ of cargo. Its operators have reassured that freight services to Jersey will continue despite the incident. The Minister for Economic Development in Jersey announced that food supplies would remain stable due to the swift actions taken during the emergency. This ferry has played a vital role in Channel Islands transportation for nearly three decades.
