Ramsgate RNLI call out to assist guard ship following engine room fire

Ramsgate All Weather Lifeboat leaving this morning Photo Sarah Hewes

Ramsgate RNLI assisted a guard ship making its way to Ramsgate harbour following a fire this morning (May 10).

Crew aboard the vessel, which was in waters 28 miles east of Ramsgate, reported the engine room blaze to Dover Coastaguard at 8.02am.

The fire was extinguished and the Ardent guard ship travelled under her own power.

A coastguard spokesperson said: “The call was received from the vessel Ardent this morning. They reported a fire in the engine room. As they were not in our waters responsibility was taken by the French coastguard who took over co-ordination of the incident.

“The fire is out and the vessel is making its way back to Ramsgate under its own power with the lifeboat meeting them in our waters.”

The RNLI travelled alongside to make sure no other problems occurred as a result of the fire. The vessel was met at the pontoon by Kent Fire and Rescue. Another Guard ship also escorting them was then released.