Fire Scare Aboard British Cruise Ship
The Boudicca, a Fred Olsen cruise liner, with more than 1,000 people on-board has been left without power off the coast of Morocco after an engine fire.
Passengers of the U.K. based luxury cruise liner were terrified when a fire plunged it into darkness and they prepared to abandon ship. The Boudicca was sailing off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco at 4am on Sunday when the engine room caught alight.
As the ship lost power and started to list the passengers were ordered to put on life jackets and assemble at emergency locations. Local media reports created havoc: "A fire in the engine of a cruise ship sailing off the coast of Morocco Sunday morning caused the vessel to "list" without power for up to five hours."
However, it is now on the move again with three auxiliary engines and two main engines running. No one was injured in the incident.
The ship left Southampton on January 20 and was making its way to Lanzarote, when it caught fire this morning. It is carrying 784 passengers and 356 crew members.
Three auxiliary engines were running along with two main engines, and the firm was reviewing the itinerary to get the ship back on schedule. The firm said: "The safety of all guests and crew on board Boudicca is Fred. Olsen Cruise Line's utmost priority. "The ship will liaise with the relevant maritime authorities, should any need emerge."
The company statement in the website says: "Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that the ship is now proceeding towards the Canary Islands, at a slower speed than planned. Guests are being kept informed of the situation at all times. There have been no injuries to any of Boudicca’s 784 guests and 356 crew members, and there is reported to be a good atmosphere on board. The ship’s Master has confirmed that at no point were guests asked to don their lifejackets and gather at the muster stations, as the situation was contained within the Engine Room by our crew members. "
