Updated 7:30pm EDT - An engine room fire today forced the evacuation of Deilmann Cruises' MS Deutschland in the Norwegian port of Eidfjord.
The 22,500-ton ship was docked at the time of the fire, and local reports say that all 364 passengers and 241 crew members were evacuated safely with no serious injuries. All but 30 of the passengers were reported to be from Germany, with no North Americans aboard. The fire was first reported at about noon local time (6am Eastern Daylight Time), and everyone was accounted for on land about four hours later.
A spokesman said that the fire was contained to the engine room, but crews were having to cool the hull before the fire could be controlled and extinguished. Norwegian officials report the fire was extinguished late Sunday afternoon.
A Deilmann spokesperson said that hotels had been arranged for the passengers for Sunday night, and they would be flown home on Monday. The ship will be towed to Bergen on Monday for damage assessment. Deilmann has canceled all sailings to June 7.
The complete article appeared in the May 24, 2010 edition of Cruise News Daily.
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