Update: Engine Room Fire Disables Cruise Ship Near Venice

Date Published: June 27, 2013

(8:50 a.m. EDT) -- An engine-room fire has partially disabledPullmantur Cruises' Zenith, requiring the cruise ship to be towed into port in Venice, Italy. 

No injuries resulted from the electrical fire that broke out in the early morning hours of June 25, when the ship was sailing between Ravenna and Venice. 

After crew extinguished the flames, the 47,255-ton Zenith lost power and was forced to anchor 17 miles from its intended destination. Four tugboats then towed the ship to the Marghera shipyard in Venice later the same day. 

The line provided busses to greet the ship when it arrived in port and scrambled its own charter planes to fly the 1,672 passengers onboard home. According to a statement, passengers will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and onward transportation costs as well as a 25% future cruise discount. 

The 21-year-old Zenith was originally built for Celebrity Cruises and was moved to Pullmantur, another Royal Caribbean subsidiary, in 2008; Zenith is scheduled to move to French cruise line Croisieres de France in 2014. 

Reportedly, Pullmantur's Chairman and CEO, Gonzalo Chico Barbier, met the ship in Venice to apologize and manage operations. The line has said that the ship is being examined by technicians, and it is not yet known how long repairs will take. It has not been announced whether further cruises will be canceled. 

MV ASIR crankcase explosion

M.V ASIR Incident

[05-12-2013]

UNITED ARAB SHIPPING COMPANY (SAG) regrets to report that on or about 0835 hrs. UTC on May 11, 2013, off Abu Elkizan Island (25-01 N and 036-05 E) an explosion occurred in the Engine Room of its vessel m.v. ASIR en route from Suez to Jeddah resulting in the loss of power of the vessel besides injuries to three of its officers. Two of the injured officers have already been removed from the vessel for medical treatment. The vessel is now on emergency power and has developed a slow drift. UASC has already entered into towage contracts for moving the vessel to Jeddah where she was originally bound.
The UASC vessel mv JEBEL ALI is near m.v. ASIR providing standby assistance until the towage operations commence. Efforts are continuing to restore power to the vessel. There is no damage to cargo nor any pollution on board the vessel or at sea but the towage operations may entail a couple of days after which the cargo on board would be discharged.
UASC regrets the inconvenience caused to its customers and Partners on account of the incident but is taking all steps to minimize the hardship to the extent possible.
A further press release will follow regarding the discharge and delivery of cargo on board the vessel once the time lines are more clearly known closer to the conclusion of towage operations.

M.V. ASIR - 2nd update

[05-19-2013]

Further to the communication dated May 12, 2013, UASC is pleased to inform having engaged the services of 2 Tugs from Smit Salvage to move the vessel to Jeddah. Informatively full power was restored to the generators prior to the commencement of towage around 0100 hrs on May 13, 2013. Prior to the arrival of tugs, UASC vessels mv AIN SNAN and mv JEBEL ALI had, in turns, extended emergency support to vessel.
The towage operations commenced on May 15, 2013 around 0845 hrs UTC and the vessel was cast off by the Smit tugs at OPL Jeddah on or about 1612 hrs local time on May 18, 2013 when four tugs belonging to the Saudi Port Authority took over and towed the vessel to Berth no: 51.at DPW Terminal in Jeddah. The vessel was all fast at the said berth on or about 2018 hrs local time.
m.v. “ASIR” is expected to complete the discharge of all 1841 containers on board around 2300 hrs local time on May 19, 2013. Subsequently she would be moved to the general cargo berth for inspection/emergency repairs.
The plan for transshipment of cargo discharged from mv ASIR at Jeddah and originally bound for Khorfakkan, Jebel Ali, Port Qassim and Nhava Sheva is as follows:

• m.v. “AL MUTANABBI ” ETA Jeddah – 19.05.2013 am
  [Reefers for Jebel Ali and cargo for Nhava Sheva]
• m.v. “HATTA” ETA Jeddah – 21.05.2013 am
  [All cargo for Arabian Gulf ports via Khorfakkan and Jebel Ali except Reefers for Jebel Ali]
• m.v. “ABU DHABI” ETA Jeddah – 26.05.2013 am
  [All Port Qassim cargo]

Any change in plans to the above will be communicated to all concerned by UASC Agents.
UASC will extend all cooperation for inspection of cargo post discharge from mv ASIR.
http://www.uasc.net/news/130512/mv-asir-incident