Now operated by DFDS and known as the Caesarea Trader, the ship was said to be anchored off the coast of the Isle of Wight when the blaze started in the engine room of the ship in the afternoon.
An RNLI lifeboat, tug vessels and a search and rescue helicopter were all dispatched to the scene.
It is being reported that the ship suddenly lost all power before the fire was discovered. The cause of the blaze was not clear last night.
The fire was clearly visible off the Isle of Wight coast in the dark last night.
DFDS said that all crew and the one passenger on board were safe, that the vessel was safely anchored and the fire was under control.
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