On 12 November, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ro-ro cargo vessel Finnwave while it was sailing approximately 12 miles off the coast of Eastbourne, UK. The incident caused a complete loss of power, but no injuries were reported among the crew.
At around 05:00 local time, Finnwave sent out a distress signal reporting an engine fire. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in Eastbourne immediately launched a lifeboat to assist, operating in moderate sea conditions and Force 5 winds.
According to RNLI, the crew managed to extinguish the fire on board, but attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful. The RNLI lifeboat remained on standby near the vessel while the crew worked to raise the anchor — a process that took over an hour due to the rough sea state.
Once the anchor was secured, HM Coastguard authorized the RNLI lifeboat to return to base. Authorities reported no environmental pollution or further damage. An investigation is expected to determine the cause of the incident.
The Finnwave is a Finnish-flagged ro-ro cargo vessel operated by Finnlines. It measures 217.55 meters in length and 26.51 meters in beam.
