Electrical Fire breaks out on Cruise Ship, Passengers Face Power Cut

The electrical fire occurred in the emergency generator room on Deck 18, causing panic among passengers. The fire was soon extinguished, and no injuries were reported, but passengers on board experienced major disruptions.  Guests reported limited power as the ship could only operate using the generator. This resulted in multiple problems, including the shutdown of elevators and the closure of dining rooms. Some passengers reported seeing smoke and experiencing unusual smells.

The fire occurred on the first night of the cruise, which was scheduled to be a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage. Passengers expressed concerns over the situation, with some saying that parts were shipped to Ocean Cay overnight from the Bahamas and that additional parts were flown in.

Despite these challenges, passengers praised the crew for their dedicated efforts in managing the situation.

MSC Cruises issued a statement confirming the fire, saying, “On the evening of December 8, a small electrical fire was reported in the emergency generator room on an upper deck of the ship and was extinguished, with no injuries reported.” The cruise line assured that the itinerary would not be affected and that the ship would continue as planned with stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to Port Canaveral on December 15.

The MSC Seashore, a 170,412 gross registered ton vessel, arrived at Ocean Cay on December 9 for an overnight stop. The cruise line confirmed that the ship would not depart from Ocean Cay until noon on December 10 to allow for necessary repairs.

Electrical fires can occur due to overheating, power surges, or issues with electrical systems such as frayed wires, overloaded circuits, or loose wiring connections. These types of fires can spread quickly and create dangerous situations, especially on ships, where emergency services are not easily available. For this reason, MSC Seashore is equipped with advanced safety systems, including cameras, smoke and heat detectors, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and fire hoses. The ship also features the “Hi-Fog high-pressure water mist fire protection system,” which is designed to suppress and extinguish fires by discharging a fine water mist at high velocity.

Additionally, all crew members undergo Basic Safety training, which includes firefighting techniques. The ship also employs Fire Patrols trained by Safety Officers to handle such emergencies.

Earlier in June 2024, an electrical fire broke out in the laundry room of MSC Armonia as the ship approached Venice, Italy. That fire was quickly put out by the ship’s crew, with no injuries and no disruption to the ship’s itinerary.