Air Conditioning Failure Causes Ship Fire, Injures Crew Members (2024)

A machine room fire aboard Adora Mediterranea while the ship was docked in Jeju, South Korea injured three crew members. While damage was done to the ship, the vessel has been certified as safe to sail and has resumed sailing to return to her homeport in China.

The incident happened on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, while the ship was enjoying a port of call visit to Jeju. According to The Korea Times, the fire was reported to the local Jeju Coast Guard at 8:37 a.m. with smoke billowing from the ship’s starboard side.

The fire was extinguished by the onboard safety systems, including the ship’s sprinklers, shortly thereafter.

Air Conditioning Failure Causes Ship Fire, Injures Crew Members (1)

Approximately 50 square meters of the vessel’s machine room – more commonly known as the engine room – was burned, which included the ceiling and adjacent pipes. The overall extent of the damage has not been announced, but it appears that no critical onboard systems have been impacted.

Three crew members were treated for smoke inhalation, but no other severe injuries were reported. The names and positions of the crew members have not been released.

There is no indication that any guest areas were involved, though the smoke did penetrate through to guest areas. Many passengers were already off the ship enjoying a day in Jeju at the time of the fire.

Some of those still onboard were evacuated until the situation was under control, but no guest injuries were reported.

Announcements were made onboard to keep guests apprised of the situation, and an explanatory letter was also delivered to guests’ staterooms.

“We are very sorry to inform you that today … the air conditioning system failed during the stopover of the Mediterranea in Jeju, South Korea,” the letter read. “The [ship] is undergoing relevant maintenance, which will have an impact on the follow-up itinerary of this cruise.”

Air Conditioning Failure Causes Ship Fire, Injures Crew Members (2)

Adora Mediterranea was thoroughly inspected and certified safe to resume her cruise by marine safety officers, though her departure from Jeju was delayed. All guests were accommodated in hotels in Jeju on Wednesday night, without charge.

The ship remained docked in Jeju for further repairs and inspections on Thursday, which cancelled the planned call to Fukuoka, Japan.

Adora Cruises arranged a complimentary tour of Jeju for all guests for the unexpected extra day in port, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the unique culture and customs of the island.

Furthermore, all hotel service fees for the cruise have been waived, and guests will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare for the disruption to the voyage.

Cruise travel protection is also in place for all guests and they will receive 400 RMB (one of China’s official currencies; approximately $56 USD) for the cancelled port visit to Fukuoka.

On her current sailing, the 85,619-gross-ton, Spirit-class Adora Mediterranea is hosting 2,430 passengers as well as 736 international crew members. The ship’s maximum capacity is 2,680 travelers if fully booked with all berths filled. Built as Costa Mediterranea when she entered service in 2003, the ship joined Adora Cruises in 2023 after extensive renovations.

The ultimate cause of the fire is still under investigation but is related to the failure in the air conditioning system. Undoubtedly additional precautions are in place to prevent any further incidents.

The ship is currently homeported from Tianjin, China, offering regular itineraries with visits to Jeju and different ports of call in Japan.

Fires on Cruise Ships

Small fires do happen on cruise ships. Electrical shorts, overheating equipment, or mechanical malfunctions are typical causes, but other potential causes can be accidents in the kitchen or even lightning strikes, such as a fire to the whale tail funnel of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom in March 2024.

Interestingly, the Carnival Freedom fire was less than a year after the ship’s funnel was previously damaged in a different fire. That first incident was related to soot buildup and other causes, but was not a result of any safety malfunction.

Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know, Including Fire Safety Risks

It should be noted that fires can occur on any cruise ship at any time. In fact, one of the newest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, had a small engine room fire in June that resulted in a brief power loss.

Cruise ship crews undergo regular training to deal with all types of emergencies, including fires, and all cruise ships have dedicated fire response teams onboard.

Air Conditioning Failure Causes Ship Fire, Injures Crew Members (2024)

FAQs

What is the most common cause of shipboard fires? ›

Common Causes of Onboard Ship Fires

A leaky pipe or fuel reservoir and a discarded cigarette may be all a fire needs to ignite. Leaky high-pressure pipes, puddles of fuel or oil and exhaust gases all contribute to the risk of an onboard fire.

What causes fires on cruise ships? ›

Galley fires on cruise ships can be triggered by various factors, with the most common causes being unattended cooking, grease accumulation, and malfunctioning kitchen equipment.

How common are cruise ship fires? ›

Speaking to CNN Travel, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said minor fires are "not common, but also not uncommon" on cruise ships, but are usually handled swiftly and with minimal disruption to passengers.

What happens if there's a fire on a cruise ship? ›

Despite these incidents, loss of life is rare, and cruise fires usually start and are extinguished in the engine room. Most cruise ships have fire suppression systems everywhere, with both mist and CO2. The crew are well-trained in fire suppression. So, if there is a fire, follow instructions and you'll be fine.

What are the three most common causes of fire? ›

  • ZURICH MUNICIPAL | Most common causes of fire. Most common causes of house fires… ...
  • Cooking Equipment. When a pot or pan overheats or splatters greases, it can take seconds to cause a fire. ...
  • Heating Equipment. ...
  • Careless Smoking. ...
  • Electrical Equipment. ...
  • Candles. ...
  • Children Playing with Fire. ...
  • Inadequate Wiring.

What is the top 1 cause of fires? ›

Unattended cooking is listed as the number one cause of residential fires. Here are a few proven tips to help reduce the risk of starting a fire while cooking: Never leave your stove unattended when cooking.

What caused the fire on the Carnival cruise ship? ›

A fire erupts on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship's exhaust funnel off the coast of the Bahamas. Witnesses suggest a lightning strike may have been the cause, with investigations underway.

What is the fire code on a cruise ship? ›

Code Bravo: Fire on board. Code Oscar: Man overboard. Code Delta: Damage to the ship or flooding emergency. Code Echo: Security threat.

Which cruise line has the most accidents? ›

The Least Secure Cruise Lines of 2023
  • Carnival Cruise Line: 51 incidents.
  • Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: 27 incidents.
  • Disney Cruise Line: 20 incidents.
  • MSC Cruise Lines: 10 incidents.

What is the riskiest part of a cruise ship? ›

Key Takeaways. Certain areas of a cruise ship, including pool decks, dining rooms, and outer decks, can become particularly hazardous during rough seas, posing risks such as injuries from slips and falls.

What is the most common injury on a cruise ship? ›

Research shows that slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of injuries both on ships and onshore. Other possible causes of cruise ship injuries or even fatalities include: Foodborne or airborne illness. Criminal violence and assaults.

What is the most common crime on cruise ships? ›

One of the most common crimes occurring on cruise ships is sexual assault. Living in such close proximity to other passengers and crew members can create a dangerous environment for vacationers, including those embarking from major cruise hubs in Miami.

What is illegal on a cruise ship? ›

You Can't Have Weapons and Objects that Could Be Potential Weapons. Drugs and Any Other Banned Substances Are Prohibited on Your Cruise Ship. Alcoholic Beverages Are (Mostly) Not Allowed on a Cruise Ship.

What do cruise ships do if someone falls overboard? ›

As soon as an incident happens, cruise ship crew will activate a button that pinpoints the place where the person went into the water. The ship will then stop and turn back to that area. The ship and its crew will perform a lengthy search and rescue operation, lasting several hours.

What is the most common type of fire onboard ships? ›

The most common causes of shipboard fire are the most obvious: maintenance burning and welding are responsible for nearly 40 per cent of all outbreaks. Smoking leads to countless fires that break out when no one expects. Lack of attention, spontaneous combustion and electrical faults are the major causes.

What is the number one cause of boat fires? ›

In larger ships, there may be a permanent AC power source that can overload or overheat, leading to a large ship fire. As BoatUS reports, more than half of all “non-electrical” fires on ships are due to an overheated cooling system.

What is the most common source of fires on boats? ›

The most common fire causes aboard vessels include:
  • Engine fires.
  • Electrical fires.
  • Galley fires.
Oct 8, 2020

Where do most shipboard fires start? ›

Electrical issues: Malfunctioning electrical equipment, overloaded circuits, or damaged wiring can start fires. Mechanical failures: Engine room machinery, fuel systems, and other mechanical components can overheat or combust due to wear and tear or lack of maintenance.

References

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