Gothenburg - A maritime disaster was averted last night when a fire aboard a ferry plying the Baltic Sea between Sweden and northern Germany, with 237 passengers aboard, was mastered, the Swedish coastguard said.
The fire broke out in the engine room of the ferry Sassnitz and the 237 passengers were put on alert to abandon ship in lifeboats. But, while two freighters and other smaller ships rushed to their aid and helicopters in Sweden and Denmark were alerted, the blaze was put out.