While sailing between the Philippines and Borneo, an engine room fire broke out onboard Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest. The fire on the 30,277grt ship was first reported by a BBC Broadcast Journalist on twitter:
hearing reports a cruise ship is on fire in Borneo – that there is chaos on board #Cruise #Borneo its full of western tourists
— Simon Browning (@simbrowning) March 30, 2012
@CruiseLaw 6* liner off Borneo has a fire in engine room. All passengers sent to cabins. All currently accounted for. Told 1 phone call each
— Simon Browning (@simbrowning) March 30, 2012
Azamara’s official statement.:
On Friday, March 30, at approximately 8:19 p.m. ship time, Azamara Quest experienced a fire in the engine room. The fire was contained to the engine room and was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries of guests reported and the atmosphere aboard is calm. However, in an abundance of caution, the Captain initially mustered all guests at their assembly stations. The ship is currently running on generator power until full power can be restored to the engine room.
Azamara Quest is currently on a 17-night sailing that departed Hong Kong, China, on Monday, March 26, and includes port calls to Manila, Philippines; Sandakan (Sabah), Malaysia; Palapo (Sulawesi), Benoa (Bali), Semarang and Komodo, Indonesia and concludes in Singapore on Thursday, April 12.
This incident comes right as it seems the public has forgotten about the Costa Allegra fire under similar circumstances.