Passengers and crew were prevented from disembarking from a ferry at Dublin Port early this morning after a chemical spill on the deck, a spokesman for Dublin Coast Guard said.
The Stena Challengertravelling from Holyhead in Wales was met at Dublin Port by Fire Brigade services and a chemical company at about 1.30 a.m. after a chemical spill on an outdoor deck.
As a precaution about 150 passengers and crew were kept aboard the ferry until the spill was cleaned up, the spokesman said. He said there was no real danger and none of those on board were injured.
Mr Terry Doyle Port Services Manager at Stena Line said passengers were kept on board until around 6 a.m. at the request of Dublin Fire Brigade.
"Passengers were not in contact with the spill," said Mr Doyle, who added that the chemicals were stored on a deck not accessible to to the public.
Stena Line are hopeful the the next scheduled sailing from Dublin at 9.30 p.m. will go ahead as planned but are not yet in a position to confirm this.