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Azamara Quest: Cruise Ship With 60 Britons On Board Adrift Off Philippines After Fire

PA/Huffington Post UK  |  By   |  Posted: 31/03/2012 09:07 Updated: 31/03/2012 12:11

Azamara Quest
The Azamara Quest sails through the Suez Canal in 2010

A cruise ship with reportedly up to 60 Britons on board was drifting in seas south of the Philippines today after a fire in one of the ship's engine rooms.

Engineers on board the luxury liner Azamara Quest are working to restore propulsion to the ship after the blaze broke out yesterday afternoon.

A statement from Azamara Club Cruises said the fire was contained to the engine room and was quickly put out and no passengers were injured.

But it said five crew members on board the ship suffered the effects of smoke inhalation with one crew member more seriously injured.

The captain of the ship mustered all passengers to the assembly stations as a precaution, the company said.

The ship is currently running on emergency power until full power can be restored in the engine room.

Engineers have managed to restore power to one of the liner's engines allowing it to re-establish air conditioning, running water, refrigeration and food preparation on board the ship, the statement added.

The damage caused by the fire has meant that the rest of the cruise will be cancelled once the ship has arrived in Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia.

The 17-night tour began in Hong Kong on Monday and was due to finish in Singapore on 12 April.

Two coastguard vessels and a patrol boat are expected to reach the liner later today.

The incident comes after the Costa Concordia liner ran into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January leaving 25 people dead and seven more missing and presumed dead.

Six weeks later another Costa cruise ship, the Costa Allegra, was left adrift off the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean after fire broke out on board.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman, speaking about the Azamara Quest, said: "We are aware of the incident and our colleagues in Manila are liaising with the Philippines coastguard who are looking into the matter."

Azamara Club Cruises is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises.

A statement from the Foreign Office issued later said: "We are aware of an incident on board the Azamara Quest and are in contact with the Philippines Coast Guard and Royal Caribbean International cruises.

"A consular team from the region will be sent to meet the ship when it docks to see what consular assistance we can provide.

"People with concerns about friends or family can find further information on the Azamara Quest Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/AzamaraClubCruises, their website http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com or by contacting the Azamara Quest helpline on 001 408 916 9001."

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A cruise ship with reportedly up to 60 Britons on board was drifting in seas south of the Philippines today after a fire in one of the ship's engine rooms. Engineers on board the luxury liner Azama...
A cruise ship with reportedly up to 60 Britons on board was drifting in seas south of the Philippines today after a fire in one of the ship's engine rooms. Engineers on board the luxury liner Azama...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
buster1949
16 Fans
03:10 PM on 03/31/2012
I do get a little fed up in this country at MO. Goerge Osbourne looks a clown, holding up his budget box, and leaving The Granny Tax for his last announcement?? Then fuel shortage, yes store fuel in your garage!! and now THE GREAT PASTY TAX!!!!! God help us all! I go to Spa, I used to pay a £1.00 now they are £2.57 I really think things should be common sence? Which polititions do not have!!! Any comments will be welcome, I could be the idiot
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Paul - Redhill
1 Fans
05:51 PM on 03/31/2012
I don't see the relevance of your post with regards to the story - however I do fully agree with your comments and that this no-elected government is a complete waste of space
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waddytog
97 Fans
03:03 PM on 03/31/2012
who are all these well heeled britons who get stranded on luxury cruise ships ?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
buster1949
16 Fans
02:59 PM on 03/31/2012
Well I was a bit afraid of flying!! But now to go on a cruise??? I don't think so
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johnernest
13 Fans
02:46 PM on 03/31/2012
Yes another incident to add to Royal Caribbean Ltd. (they own it)
Their biggest ship, Independence Of The Seas, is plagued with a virus that causes gastroenteritis, It has been on that ship for over a year now, they claim that it is under control, as many as 75 people are affected on their cruise, well the health authorities have quarantined the ship 3 times when it arrives at Southampton. But it still has it, it is an awfull journey on that ship with a total disregard to passengers enjoyment. Royal Caribbean blame the passengers fully.
No other cruise ships suffer from this disease.
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Paul - Redhill
1 Fans
05:46 PM on 03/31/2012
Your're probably talking about Norovirus which is not unique to cruise ships.

However having travelled on quite a few cruises, including the Independence of the Seas in 2011 (and Norvirus wasn't present then) the fault lies mainly is down to the pasengers themselves.

There are lots of handwash gels to use at the gangway and at every restauarant doorway on all ships to prevent bacteria and germs spreading but very few people seem to use them.

And every crusie shiip is succeptable to the virus - and no I do not work for Royal Caribbean international or the travel industry either.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kritikos
Intelligence is not a science
522 Fans
 
02:40 PM on 03/31/2012
The PR departments for these cruise outfits are burning the midnight oil, surely.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
92 Fans
 
02:28 PM on 03/31/2012
When you consider the mileage these ships do and the 24hr,
. a day use of the engines it is admirable that more breakdowns don`t happen. Imagine driving your car non-stop for days or weeks on end without a mechanical mishap. At least you have the AA or other breakdown service and alternative ways to get home which you are denied at sea.
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peg3353tx
1 Fans
01:50 PM on 03/31/2012
i say keep em on the boat
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dr JAY Veeoh
scientist
65 Fans
01:38 PM on 03/31/2012
Guess that the new super big cruise ships must have a utility machine room ,separated from the main engine room ,in order to provide some power and airco for the passengers,in case of the, now more frequent, engine room fires

This also may provide less panic before they go in the boats..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
minimemo
Can I be your friend...if they let me out...
393 Fans
01:15 PM on 03/31/2012
A clue to the tragedies befalling them could be that when I first went on a cruise there were around 5 different companies with a total of around 25 ships between them. Now there has to be at least 20 times that amount if not more, with ships 5 times the size. As prices have actually come down in real terms from over 20 years ago, costs are being cut somewhere and a sense of arrogance amongst senior crew that never used to be there before. They used to show respect and happiness to 'serve' the passengers, now it is much more about kudos for them to wear the shiny uniforms with passengers considered 'lucky' to get to talk to or meet one of them!
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danielc01
41 Fans
01:59 PM on 03/31/2012
It wont be a case that cost are being cut. But more that more people can afford to travel this way, and therefore companies make more money.
Yes no doubt companies will try cut costs, but lets not forget, these ships cost £500 million, no company is going to risk that amount of investment to save a couple of grand here and there.
and like you say, years ago, there wasnt as many ships, so to work on them was a real pleassure. But with more ships comes more jobs. So standards are likely to slip somewhat.
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derspimmel
3 Fans
12:30 PM on 03/31/2012
the best cruise trip i had was on the mv devonshire from southampton to the port of aden, that was a good trip all fire and h.s rules put into practice no problem.
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fireyfred
1 Fans
12:29 PM on 03/31/2012
Well done that Captain on carrying out the correct SOP's. some one gave statistics about accidents a few comments ago, if they would kindly Google about the boats and ships that are not reported on the news their in for a shock, and guess what!! try looking at the CAA for aircraft crashes that are reported and investigated every day but! not aired on the news. Just try it and see what you uncover!!! it's amazing, however I would still sail and fly as there is no other bloody way of getting off this god forsaken island that we call home..Regards Fred
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danielc01
41 Fans
01:20 PM on 03/31/2012
I couldnt agree more.
The Captain did everything by the book at the sounds of it. Its a shame all captains dont do that.
And yes, the number of ship and plane crashes not on our news would shock many.
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Eugene Kaufmann
7 Fans
11:44 AM on 03/31/2012
You stand a much much bigger chance of being killed in a road accident than you do on any cruise ship or airliner. You would have to travel for 2,000 years on a plane to risk the same chance of being killed NOW in a car accident.

If you travelled round the world by plane or ship, the risk of being killed in a car on the way to the port or the airport is considerably greater.
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danielc01
41 Fans
12:15 PM on 03/31/2012
The difference is when driving my car, im in control, and therefore i affect the outcome.
When on a plane or ship, i put my life in someone elses hands. And therefore have to trust they are good enough at their job, and not drunk, as some pilots and ship captains are.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
minimemo
Can I be your friend...if they let me out...
393 Fans
01:03 PM on 03/31/2012
You have no control over the, car thief, drunk driver, tired lorry driver, mum checking baby in the back who turns round for a second, idiot on mobile phone, guy who has a wasp just fly in his car, mechanical failure of someones car etc etc, who smashes through the central reservation and ends up parked on top of you.
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Mister J G Reeder
21 Fans
11:28 AM on 03/31/2012
Typical British arrogance and false sense of superiority. I suppose other people don't matter because they are not British and are therefore considered of low worth. Disgusting!
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danielc01
41 Fans
12:23 PM on 03/31/2012
Im Brittish and dont care full stop. It doesnt effect me at all.
The thing you forget is every country with people on this vessel will be reporting the same way. They will only report of the number of their people on the vessel.
And if Brittain only cared for its own, why do we give more then any other country in the world to foreign aid every year? And usually first on the scene with any major incident?
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bspeciale
0 Fans
12:49 PM on 03/31/2012
Well said. You can't have a go at the psychology behind selling a story. Of course people are more likely to read something that is linked to them, it's human nature, we relate more to it.
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Mister J G Reeder
21 Fans
01:00 PM on 03/31/2012
danielc01: It's a question of attitude, and the British attitude is possibly the most haughty, selfish, and outmoded in the world. The same is true of other English speaking countries. You ask why Britain gets involved in aid and charity, well I suspect that the real motive is an overweening sense of self-importance as if English speaking nations own the planet and are the only ones with the right to interfere with everything. My comment relates not just to one report but the overall picture and is read using more than just words.
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Mad Mick
85 Fans
12:49 PM on 03/31/2012
Something similar happened to the 3rd class passengers on the Titanic 100 years ago.
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sailordave
6 Fans
11:24 AM on 03/31/2012
as you might guess my name gives me the right to enlighten you guys, now its down to ch
cheap crews, cruise companies employ many different nationalities,mainly s.e Asian, and whilst i cannot speak for the engine room ratings i can tell you this stewards on these ships are paid only a small retainer by the cruise company (about $200usd) per month the rest of there wages are made up from tips from passengers, hence nowadays a passenger finds himself with a bill for around $10usd per day for "hotel services" this sometimes dos`nt even get to the steward, all the crews work about an 84 hour week (12 hours p/d 7 days a week) ask yourselves this, while all crew members have to have certain certificates in order to work (i.e. sea survival, fire fighting, ect) what do you think of a company that will balance wage costs with competency and safety ???
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hearthammer
If left is right and right is wrong, decide!
257 Fans
03:45 PM on 03/31/2012
I too, am a former Merchant Seaman and I totally agree with you. If you want an example closer to home, just look at Irish Ferries.
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