An engine room fire disabled the passenger ferry GNV Azzurra in the Mediterranean Sea, triggering a large-scale emergency response by French authorities. No injuries were reported among the 876 people on board.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 19 while the Italian-flagged Ro-Ro/passenger vessel was sailing from Porto Torres in Sardinia to Genoa, Italy. At approximately 21:00 local time, a fire broke out in the engine room when the ferry was about 18 nautical miles off Cape Senetosa, Corsica.
The crew immediately alerted maritime authorities and launched firefighting operations. Dense smoke was reported coming from the engine room, but after around two hours the crew successfully extinguished the blaze.
Although the fire was brought under control, two of the vessel’s engines were damaged, leaving the ferry unable to continue its voyage under its own power.
French rescue authorities deployed several assets to assist the vessel, including rescue boats, an emergency towing vessel, a tug, and a helicopter carrying firefighters and a mechanic for onboard assessments.
On the morning of June 20, the vessel was taken under tow and safely returned to Porto Torres.
All 763 passengers, 113 crew members and the vehicles carried on board were safely disembarked after the ferry arrived in port.
The cause of the engine room fire has not yet been disclosed.
