Fire on Russell ferry

A Bay of Islands ferry is stranded halfway between Paihia and Russell after a fire in its engine bay earlier this afternoon.
A passenger on board the Waimarie called 111 after a fire broke out in the engine compartment at about 1.15pm.
The five passengers on board were quickly picked up by a passing  boat that drew up alongside after noticing  smoke billowing from the vessel. The have been checked over by St John.No one was injured. The skipper put the fire out with extinguisher and three fire fighters were ferried out to the Waimarie. The boat is not thought to be seriously damaged.
See Friday's Advocate for the full details.