A fire broke out on board the freight and passenger ship, LISCO GLORIA, the night between Friday and Saturday just before midnight. The ship is one of two ships deployed on DFDS’ route between Kiel in Germany and Klaipeda in Lithuania. The route is part of DFDS’ sea-based transport network in the Baltic, DFDS press release said.
”All 204 passengers and 32 crew menbers were rescued from the fire by our crew’s rescue at sea operation, assistance from other ships in the area and a well functioning co-operation with the German and Danish authorities. A total of 23 passengers were treated for smoke poisoning and other injuries, one passenger remains in treatment. We have provided assistance to passengers and their relatives in Kiel, Klaipeda and Palanga. On Saturday night 113 passengers thus traveled with the route’s other ship, LISCO MAXIMA, to Klaipeda and Sunday morning 70 passengers were flown to Lithuania in a chartered plane. Later Sunday one more plane departed for Lithuania”, informs Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS.
”I would like to express my gratitude to the assisting shipping companies as well as the German and Danish authorities’ effective joint rescue co-ordination, which together with the crew contributed to rescuing the passengers. All parties have acted with precisely the high level of responsibility such a situation demands”, says Niels Smedegaard.
”All 204 passengers and 32 crew menbers were rescued from the fire by our crew’s rescue at sea operation, assistance from other ships in the area and a well functioning co-operation with the German and Danish authorities. A total of 23 passengers were treated for smoke poisoning and other injuries, one passenger remains in treatment. We have provided assistance to passengers and their relatives in Kiel, Klaipeda and Palanga. On Saturday night 113 passengers thus traveled with the route’s other ship, LISCO MAXIMA, to Klaipeda and Sunday morning 70 passengers were flown to Lithuania in a chartered plane. Later Sunday one more plane departed for Lithuania”, informs Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS.
”I would like to express my gratitude to the assisting shipping companies as well as the German and Danish authorities’ effective joint rescue co-ordination, which together with the crew contributed to rescuing the passengers. All parties have acted with precisely the high level of responsibility such a situation demands”, says Niels Smedegaard.
The ship is now anchored 3 miles south of Langeland, Denmark. Salvage vessels as well as vessels from the Danish maritime authorities are near the ship in order to be able to react quickly on a possible pollution risk.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. During the next weeks the scope of the damage will be evaluated and the cause of the fire will be investigated. Thereafter, measures to repair the ship will be considered.
A replacement ship will be deployed on the route and operations is expected to be normalized within a matter of days. A minor loss on operations will thus be incurred, and for a period some extra tonnage costs. It is currently estimated that the total cost of the fire will not exceed a single digit million amount in DKK in 2010.
A replacement ship will be deployed on the route and operations is expected to be normalized within a matter of days. A minor loss on operations will thus be incurred, and for a period some extra tonnage costs. It is currently estimated that the total cost of the fire will not exceed a single digit million amount in DKK in 2010.