P&O ferry adrift off the coast of Larne

A P&O ferry travelling between Cairnryan and Larne is adrift off the Co Antrim coast.

The European Causeway is currently five miles off the coast of Larne, according to tracking website Marine Traffic.

The website states the vessel's automatic identification system status is set to "not under command" which is reserved for use when a vessel is "unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel".

The vessel failed a safety Inspection back in March and was detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It had only recently resumed sailing.

The company tweeted: "Due to a mechanical issue with the Causeway in the Irish Sea, tugs from Larne and Belfast were deployed to guide it back to port.

"Once the ship is back in Port a full inspection will take place."

A RNLI spokesperson said that three lifeboats had been sent to the scene.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The reports of the European Causeway drifting in water off Larne having lost all power are deeply concerning, not least for the agency crew and passengers onboard.

"Since our members were viciously sacked on 17 March, this vessel has been detained by the MCA for failing a raft of safety checks.

"The list of offences is now as long as your arm and the Government has to step in and protect ferry safety and jobs.

"P&O and their pay masters in Dubai are no longer capable of running a safe service and should be stripped of the licence to operate their ships.”

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