In what has to be an excellent response to the fire that broke out on MSC Lirica while berthed in Corfu, the two ships fire brigades on board and local firefighters onshore and in vessels managed to extinguish the fire, with no injuries in a little over an hour, with the incident operation declared completed by 18:58 local time.
MSC has said that the fire started in a starboard side fibreglass lifeboat on deck 6, with unofficially it is suspected that as the 51 crew are reported to be staying in guest cabins including with balconies, that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette stub being throw from a balcony.
Of course forensic investigations already underway will determine the cause of the fire.
In the meantime, future cruisers can take considerable confidence from the fact that this fire was extinguished so quickly and also should the full crew manifest have been onboard there would have been several fire teams on board and the fire may have been extinguished much more quickly.
A full investigation will of course take place and it is thought that MSC Lirica will be moved where repairs can be made, with much of the damage considered to be relatively cosmetic, with MSC saying that from a preliminary assessment, there was “no damage to the inside of the ship but only to her side due to the flames and the dense black smoke caused by the fibreglass lifeboats.”
Well done MSC!
A video clip report by Alanna Zingano can be viewed below: –
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
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