Laid-up River Mersey ferry catches fire in southeast London

The ferry had suffered an earlier onboard fire on January 12, 1975, as its annual survey was ongoing. The blaze, which originated in the engine room, resulted in significant damage to the onboard electrical system.

The vessel was towed to Woolwich in 2002. It has remained there ever since.

Plans for the vessel included possible conversion into a floating nightclub. The refit never took place, however.