P&O ferry sailing AGAIN after it was adrift off the Co Antrim coast

It is understood lifeboats freed the vessel and it is now continuing it's journey

P&O ferry
Author: James GouldPublished 26th Apr 2022
Last updated 26th Apr 2022

A P&O ferry travelling between Cairnryan and Larne is now continuing on its journey after three lifeboats were launched to help it.

The European Causeway was at one stage five miles adrift 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".

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

P&O said that the European Causeway had been affected by a "mechanical issue".

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."