In the report the MAIB said that the cigarette smoldered for about 20 minutes before the flames developed and then spread quickly to adjacent balconies. Assisted by the strong wind the fire spread up to additional decks and onto balconies in two fire zones in 6 minutes. Within 24 minutes the fire spread to a third zone and then into staterooms as the heat of the fire caused glass to shatter on balcony doors. Once the blaze spread to the staterooms it was contained by the fixed sprinklers in each room.
The ship's crew was able to extinguish the fire within an hour and a half, but not before almost 300 staterooms were damaged. The affected area covered three vertical fire zones on five different decks.
The MAIB also praised the rapid response to the incident by the entire cruise line industry. The International Council of Cruise Lines advised operators to take imediate precautionary measures on April 13. The recommendations included extra fire watches and also the replacement of combustible balcony materials. In addition the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued interim operational recommendations to cruise lines and also proposed Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) amendments which will be considered for worldwide adoption as early as this November.
Viking River Cruises was recognized by readers of the leading travel publication Condé Nast Traveler in the “Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines” for the magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s annual survey allows its readers to rate hotels and resorts, cities and islands, cruise lines and more to determine the best of the best in travel.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of the “Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines” by Condé Nast Traveler readers,” said Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman, Viking River Cruises. “As the world’s leading river cruise line, we own and manage all aspects of our passenger’s experience, from our reservations department to our ships to our onboard Swiss hotel management, giving our passengers an excellent travel experience. Our listing in the top 10 Small Ships, along with the high numbers of passengers who return to us year after year for another cruise, confirms our leadership in the industry.”
The Readers’ Choice Awards results appear in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, and are also available online. In 2006, more than 283,657 subscribers were provided with the questionnaire to vote on cities, islands, hotels, resorts, safari camps, cruise lines, airlines, and car rental agencies that they had visited or traveled within recently. Addition information about the methodology is available on Condé Nast Traveler’s website.
For 2007 vacations, river cruisers can choose from 17 different Viking River Cruises itineraries that travel along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. Additional details about China itineraries are featured in the 2007 China Expeditions brochure, and Europe and Russia itineraries are detailed in the 2007 European & Russian River Cruise Journeys brochure; both are available from Cruise Planners by calling toll-free 1-888-286-9827.
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