A fire has broken out on a casino cruise ship headed for Singapore, with one crew member reported dead.
The Liberia-registered World Legacy ship, operated by Singapore’s World Cruises, caught fire while returning to its home base at around 4am on Friday before being extinguished by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) marine firefighting personnel, according to information released from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The fire is said to have started in a lounge area on Deck 9.
The 271 passengers on board, of which 135 were Singaporean, were evacuated by boat, with four transferred to hospital, MPA added. There were also 388 crew members on board, with the deceased member later revealed to be a 23-year-old laundry assistant from Indonesia.
In comments to Singapore media outlet The Straits Times, one passenger described the ordeal as a “truly terrible and traumatizing experience” with travellers unsure of what was happening until rescue teams arrived.
“It wasn’t until 7.10am that we were told to move down to deck three to wait for the rescue boat,” the passenger said.
“And there, we had to jostle and wait from around 7.20am to 9.20am before we could board the rescue boat.”
According to the MPA, the vessel has since been anchored at Singapore’s western Raffles Reserved Anchorage although a core crew has remained onboard to conduct safety checks, carry out essential vessel operations, support investigations and ensure the safe management of the vessel while at anchor.
In a statement, World Cruises said, “The safety of passengers and crew is always our top priority. We will provide updates as appropriate.”
The company describes World Legacy on its website as a “flexible offshore leisure destination” for short visits or overnight and multi-night stays. It features 200 cabins plus “dining, entertainment and nightlife experiences” and a casino with slot machines and table games. The ship is understood to be over 40 years old.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said.
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