L' Boreal cruise ship fire to North of the Falkland Islands

L' Boreal cruise ship fire to North of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands Government can confirm that a private cruise vessel has issued a distress call following a fire on-board..

The vessel was bound from Grave Cove to South Georgia with 347 passengers and crew aboard when the alarm was raised at 0201 local time, in the vicinity of Cape Dolphin to the north of the Falkland Islands.

FIG Emergency Services are working swiftly and in close collaboration with local vessel agents and British Forces South Atlantic Islands Emergency Services, and HMS Clyde has changed course in order to aid the evacuation operation.

Further information will be circulated as the situation progresses.

http://en.mercopress.com/2015/11/18/l-boreal-cruise-ship-fire-to-north-of-the-falkland-islands

Through Facebook information coming from the Falklands;

Cruise ship Le Boreal is on fire off the coast of the Falklands Islands. Many people have been working hard for most of the night to evacuate the ship and get everyone safely to shore in strong winds.

From comments that I have read on Facebook I'm pleased to say that everything seems to be going well, and will post more news as we receive it.

Thoughts are with all those involved.

Hope everyone is safe.

What a terrible thing to happen, and in such a remote and windy area. Please let us know if you hear more. We're watching the new series of "An Island Parish- Falklands" on BBC at the moment, and can feel the remoteness and wind as we watch.

What a terrible thing to happen, and in such a remote and windy area. Please let us know if you hear more. We're watching the new series of "An Island Parish- Falklands" on BBC at the moment, and can feel the remoteness and wind as we watch.

Cruise ship evacuated after fire

A small cruise ship operated by French line Ponant has been evacuated after an engine room fire.

The 264-passenger Le Boreal was sailing off the Falkland Islands early Wednesday when the fire broke out, according to a Ponant statement sent to USA TODAY.

There were no injuries to passengers or crew from the fire, which was "of a technical nature" and has been extinguished, the line says.

Ponant says Le Boreal's passengers were transferred to sister ship L’Austral, which also was in the region, and are being taken to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands to be repatriated to their homes. The remainder of the Le Boreal sailing has been cancelled.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2015/11/18/cruise-ship-evacuated-after-fire/75983786/

Thank you for the information.

I think I looked up the correct ship -- only 5 years old.

Glad the passengers and crew are all safe.

Now that all souls are safe, here's a maritime note. Since the Captain apparently completely abandoned the ship, the first person to step foot onboard gains right to ownership. I understand that two Dutch tugs are bringing the ship to port, so even if they were contracted under Lloyd's Open Form salvage contract, this gives the right to determine how much the salvors are paid to an independent arbiter. This could be up to the value of the ship and cargo.

This is a reminder that things can happen and the importance of good safety training for the crew and that the passengers take safety seriously as well.

Glad everyone is safe.

Keith

Thank you everyone for your information. I managed to see a short clip on Facebook of two RAF Sea King helicopters winching passengers and crew to safety from the deck and from a life raft; also showing was two ship's lifeboats with 200 people on each, heading towards the islands.