25 evacuated – A fire broke out in the machinery section of the MBTA’s Champion ferry Monday afternoon while it was running a trip from Hingham to Long Wharf, prompting the evacuation of 25 passengers onto Castle Island. Coast Guard investigators are looking into the cause.
A little after 2:30 p.m. on Monday. the MBTA ferry Champion discovered a fire inside its machinery section—while it was already underway on a 2 p.m. trip from Hingham to Long Wharf. By the time the flames were confronted. 25 passengers had been evacuated onto Castle Island as Boston Fire Department Marine units responded.
“The MBTA apologizes to passengers onboard this ferry trip today,” the MBTA said.
The MBTA said the fire’s flames were “immediately extinguished as quickly as possible.” Once passengers were moved to Castle Island, an MBTA bus picked them up and carried them to Aquarium/Long Wharf station.
The US Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the fire. After the response, the Champion was towed away from Castle Island, the MBTA said.
For passengers trying to get through the rest of the day, the disruption was limited in scope but immediate in its impact: the MBTA said there were no other canceled Hingham/Hull ferry trips Monday, and that other vessels would supplement the route for the remainder of the day.
MBTA ferry Champion Castle Island evacuation Hingham Long Wharf Boston Fire Department Marine unit US Coast Guard investigation Aquarium Long Wharf station