CAESAREA TRADER © John Bryant

DFDS’ CAESAREA TRADER suffers major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight

Ro-roThe DFDS-owned freight RoRo CAESAREA TRADER suffered a major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight while on her regular run between St. Helier, Jersey and Portsmouth in the afternoon of 9 February. All 23 crew and one passenger are reported accounted for and well.

The 1996-built 1,250 lanemetre capacity CAESAREA TRADER is expected to be towed from her current position, anchored east of Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight, to Portsmouth Harbour on 10 February, where crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service will take over the incident.

DFDS said that it was “making necessary steps to maintain continuity of freight links to Jersey.” This means that its chartered RoPax ferry STENA VINGA, which operates between Portsmouth and Jersey, will make a freight-only sailing from Portsmouth to St. Helier on 10 February.

Meanwhile, back-up roro ARROW, is sailing from Dunkirk to Portsmouth on 10 February and is expected in Portsmouth at 06.00 on 11 February. This 1,050 lanemetre capacity vessel will maintain the freight link between the UK and Jersey for the time being.

CAESAREA TRADER is the former Condor Ferries-owned COMMODORE GOODWILL, which was acquired by DFDS in June 2025 to maintain the dedicated freight link between Portsmouth and Jersey and then renamed.

feb 10 2026