A former floating nightclub was reduced to nothing but a burnt-out shell after a huge blaze ripped through it.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the Tuxedo Royale as firefighters battled to dampen the inferno yesterday evening.
The ship, docked on the River Tees in Middlesborough, caught fire at about 7pm, reports Gazette Live .
The smoke became so thick at one point it obscured the Transporter Bridge from sight.
The boat had been left to rot on the river for years, after it was abandoned in 2009.
In its heyday, thousands of people partied on the vessel and its sister ship, the Tuxedo Princess, when they were stationed beneath the Tyne Bridge.
It moved to Middlesbrough in 2000, opening late in the year to revellers.
But has been rusting and empty since it was moved to the Able UK dock on the Tees in 2009.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “We can confirm that we’ve got five fire crews on scene, and there’s a fire on the decks.
“The command unit and other vehicles are also on scene, making it eight in total.
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“It was a big one and it’s kept us busy, It was well alight.”
By about 8.50pm the blaze appeared to be largely under control but there was still smoke pouring out of the ship’s bridge area and fire crews were still fighting flames at 9.30pm.
A spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service confirmed that it had an ambulance at the scene on stand by to assist with the firefighters’ efforts, but that there were no reported casualties.
It comes just months after Middlesborough Council said it would finally move the rusting boat to aid regeneration efforts at Middlehaven.
But campaigners John Coates and Lisa Turner - who wanted to restore the vessel as a training ship - spoke of their disappointment and said they had no idea there were any discussions to remove it.
Speaking from the scene, John said: “It’s serious. You can see the smoke from South Bank.
“It could have been caused by anything - it’s been a hot day, it could have been someone, it’s not right to speculate.
“We have wanted to restore it. The problem was that it didn’t work with the council’s ski centre - there were issues.
“We were at a deadlock.
“Basically, the steel structure is all I’m interested in.
“It may be a bit warped but hopefully it will be okay.”
Another witness said: “I heard someone blame kids, but you just don’t know do you?
“It’s a shame, I’ve had many a dance on there,”
Despite rescue attempts, the former ferry - known as the TSS Dover and later renamed the Earl Siward, Sol Express and finally the Tuxedo Royale - has remained unused since it ceased operating ten years ago.
when it was moved to Able UK dock in 2009 councillors deferred the decision due to safety concerns, but with its revolving dancefloor, it became a beloved party spot thousands of Teessiders when it eventually opened.
The turbine steamship was built in 1965 as a roll-on/roll-off ferry and spent much of her later life as a floating nightspot beneath the Tyne Bridge, before being laid up on the banks of the Tees.
In 2015, the vessel was entered into the Register of Historic Ships as it turned 50-years-old, which campaigners hoped would help in funding bids to restore it.