A container ship has gone adrift about 207 nautical miles southwest of Haida Gwaii after an engine fire caused it to lose propulsion.

The MOL Prestige — a 293-metre, Singapore-flagged cargo ship — was reported in distress at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Tony Wright of the Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said a Buffalo aircraft was dispatched to the scene and that the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier is expected to arrive on scene at midnight tonight.

More to come