The MSC Lirica was on fire in the port of Corfu in Greece on Friday afternoon.
Photos published on social media and in Cruise Industry News show heavy smoke and flames on the starboard side of the docked ship.
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The fire "seems to have originated in an empty lifeboat on Deck 6, was reported to the emergency services earlier today in Corfu where the ship is currently in warm layup," Ian Patterson, Country Manager for Canada with MSC, told Open Jaw.
"No injuries were reported among the 51 crew who were on board the ship at the time of the incident. A full incident response operation is currently underway with the support of the local emergency services."
UPDATE -- MSC CRUISES' statement regarding MSC Lirica in Corfu (6:35 PM CET)
Today at 3:42 p.m. local time in Corfu where she is currently in warm layup, MSC Lirica reported a fire incident into the MSC Maritime Support Centre in London, UK.
The fire originated from one of the ship’s starboard-side fiberglass lifeboats on deck 6.
The fire has since been brought under control thanks to the intervention of the ship’s two fire brigades and the support of the local emergency services.
The incident operation was declared completed by 6:58 p.m. local time.
There were no injuries among the 51 crew who were on board the ship at the time of the incident.
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 fiberglass lifeboats.
A full investigation is now in progress.
