Lifeboats have been dispatched to rescue a P&O ferry after it went adrift in the Irish sea this afternoon.
The European Causeway can carry up to 410 passengers and lost power five miles off the coast of Larne, in Northern Ireland.
It left Cairnryan around noon and was meant to arrive in Larne Harbour at 2pm today.
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The ferry company said the ship was stuck at sea due to mechanical problems.
They added that a full inspection will take place when the ship is back in port.
Tugs from Larne and Belfast have been deployed to guide it back to port, they added.
Three RNLI lifeboats from Larne and Red Bay have been sent to the scene, an RNLI spokesperson said.
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 spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “ Following a temporary mechanical issue, the European Causeway is now continuing on its scheduled journey to the Port of Larne under its own propulsion, with local tugs on standby, where it will discharge its passengers and cargo as planned.
"There are no reported injuries onboard and all the relevant authorities have been informed. Once in dock a full independent investigation will be undertaken.”
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