An investigation into the cause of the recent fire that severely damaged the Yasawa Princess liveaboard vessel off the Maldives is still ongoing.
On December 24, a “major fire incident” engulfed the 55-meter/180-foot-long Yasawa Princess, but all 17 passengers and eight crew members were able to evacuate the vessel with no injuries, according to a statement issued by Deep Blue Dive Centres Managing Director Ismail Faisal:
“The relevant authorities, Maldives National Defense Force and Maldives Fire and Rescue Service, were promptly informed and have been actively managing the firefighting and emergency response at the scene.
“Regrettably, due to the extent of the damage sustained, the vessel is no longer operational and will not be able to cruise for the current season.
“We request the patience and understanding of our partners, agents, and guests while we complete a full assessment. Further communication will follow shortly regarding the handling of all future bookings.
“We also respectfully request that all stakeholders refer to the appropriate official reports and statements released by the relevant authorities regarding this incident.
“The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority.”
In November 2024, the Maldives liveaboard vessel Blue Voyager run by Master Liveaboards went up in flames while in port. The boat was undergoing maintenance at the time, so no passengers were on it and no other injuries were reported.
