Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s 28,551gt/1973 built Boudicca (above) was briefly left without power after fire broke out in her engine room on the morning of 25th January while the vessel was sailing off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco.The 784 passengers were alerted at 0400 and the incident was confined to the engine room and extinguished.

Although some cabins and public areas were left without electricity, power was restored to most of the ship, which continued under way running on two main engines and three auxiliary units. The ship’s master also confirmed that at no point were guests asked to don their lifejackets and gather at the muster stations as the situation was contained within the engine room by crew members.

The ship was left listing slightly to port during the power loss but remained stable and all 356 crew were also unaffected. The Boudicca was on an 18-night cruise to the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands which departed from Southampton on 20th January. The ship was en-route from Cadiz to Arrecife, Lanzarote but diverted to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The Boudicca arrived in Tenerife on the afternoon of 27th January, where guests were greeted by Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and a team from the Head Office in Ipswich, Suffolk. A team of engineers and technicians also joined the ship in Tenerife, and began investigating the extent to which the two main engines and electrical cables have been affected. Their expert assessment was that the Boudicca should stay longer in Tenerife, in order for the ship to undertake all the work required.

As a definitive time frame could not be assured, Fred. Olsen made the difficult decision to fly guests back to Southampton and Bournemouth, at its own expense, and they arrived back in the UK on the evening of Thursday 29th January, supported by teams of Fred. Olsen staff at the airports. Alternative arrangements were made for those who are unable to fly home. The ship arrived back at Southampton at around 2000 on 6th February with her next cruise departure scheduled for the next day.

Meanwhile fleet mate 24,344gt/1993 built Braemar is due to commence her second cruise season from Harwich International Port, Essex on 4th April 2015.