It is not known what caused the fire which continued for over four hours after breaking out at 2.30am on the 3,300-lane-metre Corona Seaways (built 2008) while en route from Frederica in Jutland to Copenhagen.

DFDS said the crew contained the blaze on the main deck with the onboard sprinkler system, but the fire flared up again.

Danish rescue services accompanied the vessel into Swedish waters after it diverted to Helsingborg.

Local