Fire on Sydney cruise ship sparks partial evacuation
Two passengers have been assessed by paramedics and scores have been evacuated after a fire broke out on a cruise ship in Sydney.
A crew member inspects a fire extinguisher on the balcony of one of the rooms onboard the Viking Orion cruise ship, in Sydney. Passengers have been evacuated after a fire broke out. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)
The fire on the Viking Orion began in an accommodation cabin and was contained by the ship’s crew.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews used thermal imaging to ensure the blaze was completely extinguished.
As a precaution, the level on which the fire broke out and the level above were evacuated, firefighters said.
Two passengers were assessed by paramedics but were not transported to hospital.
The source of the fire is yet to be identified.
The Viking Orion was prevented from docking in South Australia in late December due to the build-up of marine creatures and plants on its hull.
Professional divers scrubbed the biofoul from the 227-metre ship before it returned to its scheduled itinerary in January.
The management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving international vessels.
