The 26,904gt/2009 built Norman Atlantic was en-route from Patras, Greece, to Ancona in Italy, a service that she had only been chartered for from 19th December-5th January in place of the Hellenic Spirit when, at around 0400 on 28th December after an interim call at Igoumenitsa, a fire broke out on the main vehicle deck and quickly took hold.

Propulsion and steering was lost in rough seas and a Mayday call was issued. Italian and Greek helicopter crews worked through the day and into the night to airlift passengers off the burning ferry whilst adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships. Passengers were transferred to a nearby container vessel Spirit of Piraeus and the ferry Cruise Europa took some evacuees plus some had evacuated via an MES shute into a ship’s lifeboat.

Firefighting tugs attended the scene with passengers forced to spend hours on the uppermost decks to escape the fire. The fire spread through the accommodation areas. The order to evacuate, according to some passengers, was delayed hence only one lifeboat got away. Other reports suggested the death of one couple whilst using the evacuation shute. Another reason for passengers to seek refuge on the upper decks above the bridge was that the decks were so hot that shoes were melting.

At the time of the fire the ferry was just 13 miles from the Albanian port of Vlore but an Italian navy spokesman wanted the ship to be towed the 50 miles to the Italian port of Brindisi. The air lifts continued until the last person, the Captain, was taken off the ship during the afternoon of 29th December after a 36 hour ordeal, as the ship was being towed to port. Sadly two Albanian crew of the Salvage tug were killed when a tow line parted. Around six aircraft were involved in the rescue with 10 ships standing by in support roles. Winds of up to 55mph buffeted the ship and both hindered the rescue and fanned the flames.

The death toll had reached 8 but there was some confusion over passenger numbers, including stowaways. The Spirit of Piraeus, with 49 evacuees aboard, arrived at Bari on 29th December and, despite the manifest total of 478, 427 passengers were rescued from the ship, including two stowaways. Another ship brought nearly 40 survivors ashore on New Year’s Eve in the Italian port of Taranto. After the New Year the total number of passengers rescued was revised to 477.

Command of the operation was transferred to Italy after winds took the helpless vessel out of Greek waters but officials were co-ordinating closely and an Albanian coastguard vessel was also taking part until the Italian authorities took command. Nearby passenger and container ships had attempted to form a ring around the burning vessel to try to form a windbreak to allow small rescue boats to approach. The arduous evacuation exercise was complete by 1300 on 29th December. The passengers were mostly Greek but the manifesto also listed people from Germany, Italy, Austria, Turkey, France and the Netherlands.

Maritime salvage operator Boskalis Westminster NV was awarded the salvage contract and the ship was towed in to the port of Brindisi on 2nd January after a 17 hour voyage to be searched once the ship had cooled sufficiently. The ship had been impounded to ensure the necessary investigation could be undertaken. As time went on, more passengers spoke of the chaotic rescue procedure and the lack of a fire alarm or order to abandon ship. Conflicting reports certainly highlight how differently those affected viewed the whole drama. The fires on board were finally completely extinguished on 10th January.

Road tankers containing olive oil were among the vehicles to contribute to the ferocity of the blaze. The ferry is owned by Italian ferry operator Visemar di Navigazione but was on charter to Greece’s Anek Lines. The Norman Atlantic was the subject of an inspection in Patras on 19th December and her deficiencies included the Search and Rescue Co-operation plan for passenger ships, Emergency Systems (Emergency Lighting etc), Fire Safety Doors, Lifesaving appliances, other lifesaving appliances plus watertight doors. The blatant rule break of truck drivers sleeping in their trucks on the vehicle decks is also a serious matter and may account for several of those who perished. Some drivers reported that they were awoken by an explosion and then had to scramble for their lives.

Captain Argilio Giacomazzi was the last to leave the ship and reportedly told prosecutors that crew members did not properly follow his orders in lowering the lifeboats and that the car deck had too many vehicles. Italian TV reports also said passengers claimed five crewmen were in the only lifeboat launched, in apparent violation of rules that say only three crew members per lifeboat. The ramifications of this tragedy will roll on and on and the outcome of the investigation is awaited with interest.

The ship’s black box was retrieved before the onboard search was stopped due to the heat. A fire on Decks 1/2/3/4 then reignited on 7th January in 180 degree temperatures plus plans to move the ship elsewhere have been dropped as officials fear for the integrity of the hull. At the time of writing the confirmed death toll stood at 11.