Disabled Cruise Ship Arives in Seychelles Port
A disabled cruise ship arrived in port in the island nation of the Seychelles on Thursday morning after three days at sea without power as dozens of officials flocked to the port to help distressed passengers.
The Seychelles Red Cross set up several tents to assist any passengers needing help and officials from the British High Commission and the French and Italian embassies were at the port to receive their citizens. Tour operators lined up dozens of buses ready to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort. The process was expected to take several hours and the weather is hot and humid.
The Costa Allegra has been at sea with more than 1,000 people onboard and without electricity since a fire in the generator room on Monday. There are no working toilets, showers, lights or air conditioning. The cause of the fire is unknown. A French fishing vessel has been towing the cruise ship to safety.
Travel agents flocked to the port, waiting to help passengers ashore.
"The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service. "I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."
The average age of passengers onboard the ship is 55 years, he said, and the heat and lack of hygiene could be uncomfortable for some of the older travelers.
"I know it was bad luck for these guys (from the cruise ship company) but they are doing the best they can," he said. "They have a lot of image building to do right now but I've seen a very professional team."
The fire came only six weeks after the Costa Concordia, owned by the same company, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing and presumed dead. No one was injured in the fire Monday.........GET MORE CLICK HERE
The Seychelles Red Cross set up several tents to assist any passengers needing help and officials from the British High Commission and the French and Italian embassies were at the port to receive their citizens. Tour operators lined up dozens of buses ready to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort. The process was expected to take several hours and the weather is hot and humid.
The Costa Allegra has been at sea with more than 1,000 people onboard and without electricity since a fire in the generator room on Monday. There are no working toilets, showers, lights or air conditioning. The cause of the fire is unknown. A French fishing vessel has been towing the cruise ship to safety.
Travel agents flocked to the port, waiting to help passengers ashore.
"The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service. "I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."
The average age of passengers onboard the ship is 55 years, he said, and the heat and lack of hygiene could be uncomfortable for some of the older travelers.
"I know it was bad luck for these guys (from the cruise ship company) but they are doing the best they can," he said. "They have a lot of image building to do right now but I've seen a very professional team."
The fire came only six weeks after the Costa Concordia, owned by the same company, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing and presumed dead. No one was injured in the fire Monday.........GET MORE CLICK HERE
