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Ferry Disaster

Photos: The Norman Atlantic sailed from Rosslare six months before tragic fire

An Irish passenger who travelled on the vessel in June said it was scary to think he was on the boat just six months ago.
3.10pm, 29 Dec 2014
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AT LEAST SEVEN people lost their lives on the Norman Atlantic after the car ferry caught fire with 478 passengers on board.

Though none of these passengers were Irish, this ferry had been used over the summer to transport Irish passengers from Rosslare to Saint Nazaire in France. The route, offered by LD Lines, was launched in early June.

LD Lines Network LD Lines Network

Irishman Niall Kelly, who was a passenger on the ferry for the first trip from Rosslare to Saint Nazaire in June this year, told TheJournal.ie it is “scary to think we were aboard that boat six months ago”.

He took these photos of the boat so he could share them on an online forum to let other Irish people who were looking at holiday deals know what they could expect:

Photos: The Norman Atlantic sailed from Rosslare six months before tragic fire
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  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

  • Norman Atlantic

    Source: Niall Kelly

It is still unclear right now how the fire started. The vessel underwent checks on 19 December and the Visenti Group, which owns the boat, said minor flaws identified at the time were addressed, including a problem with a fire door.

The rescue operation continues.

Related: Death toll from ferry fire reaches 5 as more bodies found>

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