Cruise Ship Superstructure Fire Extinguised by Crew
Royal Caribbean International announce cancellation of the vessel's next cruise to allow for damage repair in the port of refuge, Freeport, Bahamas.
At approximately 3 a.m., Monday, Coast Guard Sector Miami received a report of a fire aboard the Bahamian-flagged cruise ship Grandeur of the Seas carrying 2,224 passengers and 796 crew en route to CoCoCay, Bahamas.
The fire began on the third deck of the aft mooring area of the ship and spread to the fourth deck crew lounge area. Around 5 a.m., the fire was reported to have been extinguished by the ship’s fire response crew, without injuriy to passenger or crew members.
Coast Guard Sector Miami issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, the Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered to respond to the emergency. The Coast Guard also launched a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk to respond.
The cruise ship Carnival Sensation and a motor vessel from the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER), the Hagen, also diverted to stand by and assist if needed.
The Cutter Cormorant and the Cutter Yered escorted the Grandeur of the Seas to Freeport, Bahamas where it is currently moored for further evaluation and repairs
The cruise liner was on a seven-night sailing cruise that departed Baltimore, Maryland, on May 24, and included port calls to Port Canaveral, Florida; CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.
RCI say that the May 31, 2013 sailing of Grandeur of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland, will be cancelled to allow for repairs to damages sustained as a result of a fire. Guests booked on the May 31 sailing will be provided a full refund of the cruise fare paid for their sailing. Royal Caribbean also will provide these guests with the opportunity to sail in the future by providing a future cruise certificate for 50 percent of the cruise fare paid for the May 31, 2013, Grandeur of the Seas sailing.