le boreal cruise ship fire

Video shows British forces rescuing 347 people from cruise ship after it caught fire off Falkland Islands

British forces 'prevented a human tragedy' when they helped rescue 347 passengers and crew from a French cruise ship off the Falkland Islands yesterday

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British forces “prevented a human tragedy” when they helped rescue 347 passengers and crew from a French cruise ship that suffered a major engine room fire off the Falkland Islands.

The 10,000 tonne Le Boreal cruise ship sent out a distress signal Wednesday morning after it lost power because of the fire. The vessel was at risk of running aground on Cape Dolphin, East Falkland, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

British forces based in the Falkland Islands scrambled four helicopters to winch 79 people from the deck of the drifting cruise ship and from two life rafts in the water. They received clothing, food and medical attention at the British forces base at Mount Pleasant.

The Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Clyde was dispatched to the scene to help two other life rafts reach safety with more than 200 people on board.

“We responded with everything we had yesterday to assist in what was an extremely complex and hazardous rescue operation in difficult conditions,” Commander of British Forces South Atlantic Islands Darren Bone said in a statement. “This was a huge team effort involving close liaison with the Falkland Islands Government and I am enormously impressed with the reaction by all the British forces involved, it was an exemplary performance all round.”

All 347 passengers and crew survived the rescue mission. The cruise ship is “in a stable condition” and is being assessed for damage.

“This successful rescue … demonstrates how our Armed Forces are always ready to help those in peril,” Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement. “The swift action taken by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force crews, working with civilian counterparts, saved many lives and prevented this developing into a human tragedy.”

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• Defence and armed forces

British Forces go to assistance of stricken cruise liner in the Falklands

Military assets deployed in support of Falkland Island government in cruise ship rescue.

RAF Sea King helicopter winching passengers to safety from the cruise ship La Boreal. Crown Copyright.

In support of the Falkland Island Government, British forces based in the Falkland Islands yesterday responded to a distress call by the 10,000 tonne cruise ship ‘Le Boreal’. The ship reported suffering a major engine room fire, which caused the loss of all power and left the ship drifting. A north-westerly gale placed the ship in real danger of grounding on Cape Dolphin, East Falkland.

The master ordered the ship, with 347 passengers and crew, to be abandoned early yesterday morning. Working closely with the Falkland Islands Government, British Forces enacted a major search and rescue plan. Two Royal Air Force Sea King Search and Rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with two other support helicopters, a C130 Hercules and a Voyager aircraft for command and control. The Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Clyde was despatched to the scene, as were Dutch tugs which support British Forces in the Falkland Islands.

In an operation coordinated from Mount Pleasant, Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopters, supported by British International and Bristows helicopters, successfully winched 79 people from the deck of the Le Boreal and from two life rafts in the water. All of these evacuees were brought to the British Forces Base at Mount Pleasant where they received care, clothing, food and medical attention. HMS Clyde assisted two further lifeboats with over 200 evacuees on board, ensuring they were brought to safety.

All passengers and crew from Le Boreal have been accounted for and are being looked after on the Falkland Islands. The vessel itself is now in a stable condition and two Dutch Tugs, under contract to British Forces, are now assisting to bring the vessel alongside in the Falkland Islands for a detailed assessment of her condition.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

This successful rescue in the Falklands this morning demonstrates how our Armed Forces are always ready to help those in peril. The swift action taken by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force crews, working with civilian counterparts, saved many lives and prevented this developing into a human tragedy.

Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Cdre Darren Bone, said:

We responded with everything we had yesterday to assist in what was an extremely complex and hazardous rescue operation in difficult conditions but I am delighted that we can report all of the passengers and crew of the vessel are safe and well and the vessel itself in a stable condition. This was a huge team effort involving close liaison with the Falkland Islands Government and I am enormously impressed with the reaction by all the British forces involved, it was an exemplary performance all round.

Additional imagery can be found on the Defence Imagery website .

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Hundreds Evacuated from Luxury Cruise Ship After Engine Room Fire

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Update: Photos and Video Show ‘Complex’ Rescue

Some 347 passengers and crew members were evacuated from a French luxury cruise ship early Wednesday near the Falkland Islands following an engine room fire.

The fire broke out at about 2 a.m. onboard Ponant’s Le Boreal as the ship sailed from Grave Cove to South Georgia, according to Cruise Law News .

A statement from the company said the passengers were evacuated as a “precaution” and were picked up by another Ponant vessel, L’Austral, which happened to be near by.

“The incident is under control. There are no injuries to the passengers or crew,” the company said.

The passengers were expected to be taken to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands and repatriated from there. The remainder of the cruise has been cancelled, the company said.

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Engineroom fire causes evacuation of cruise ship.

An engineroom fire yesterday on 19 November, onboard the cruise ship Le Boréal , owned by France-based cruise line Ponant, while the vessel was near the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic resulted in passengers and crew being evacuated and rescued. Eleven crew members remained onboard to fight the fire. The cruise operator said the fire was “of a technical nature” but did not give any more details. The fire was extinguished and the vessel has been anchored. An investigation is taking place into the exact cause of the blaze.

Some 347 passengers and crew were reported to have been evacuated from the cruise ship with the assistance of British military forces based on the Falkland Islands and transferred to sistership L’Austral and taken to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Ponant said there were no injuries to passengers or crew.

Le Boréal was on a 15 night Antarctic cruise from Ushaia in Argentina. Subsequent cruises have been cancelled while an assessment of the damage and necessary repairs is undertaken.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence the ship reported suffering a major engineroom fire, which caused the loss of all power and left the ship drifting. A north westerly gale placed the ship in real danger of grounding on Cape Dolphin, East Falkland. British forces enacted a major search and rescue plan, using four helicopters, two aircraft and the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Clyde together with Dutch tugs which support British forces in the Falkland Islands.

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Cruise Ship Law Blog

Cause of Le Boreal Cruise Ship Fire Confirmed

Written by LM&W Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is made up of attorneys who are nationally recognized industry leaders in the field of maritime and admiralty law. Our team of cruise lawyers has well over two centuries of combined experience, has successfully handled over 3,000 cases, and has recovered over 300 million dollars in damages for our clients. Several of our attorneys have even been selected to “Best Lawyers” ® by US News & World Report every year as far back as 2016.

Ultimately, no one can know if and when a tragic event will happen at sea. Despite best efforts by the crew and passengers to plan and prepare for any situation, there are times when that preparation simply cannot help the situation that unfolds.

Fire At Sea

That was just the case with the fire aboard Le Boral cruise ship in November 2015 . The French ship, which was sailing off the coast of the Falkland Islands, had to be evacuated due to a fire in the engine room.

Now, nine months later, we bring you confirmation of the cause of the fire. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the fire was, in fact, caused by a ship’s officer. According to reports, the crewmember believed a fuel filter to be clogged. While attempting to unclog the filter, fuel oil sprayed onto part of a hot engine. This caused a fire that spread through the copper cables of the engine compartment.

Although the emergency sprinkler system did turn on, it was not forceful or effective enough to prevent the spread of the fire. This, in turn, necessitated an evacuation, which successful evacuated all but 10 of the cruise ship passengers.

Revised Safety Protocols in Place

The details of this event call into question the protocols that were in place at the time, specifically the fact that only one ship’s officer was on duty at the time—the one who caused the fire—and the fact that the sprinkler system was too weak to successful extinguish the fire.

We are glad to report that new rules, put into practice as a result of this fire, require at least two people to be working at night on the fuel feeding line. This was accompanied by updated instructions regarding the types of activities that engine and deck officers can complete.

However, we are curious as to whether the sprinkler system will also be addressed at some point in the near future. After all, a properly functioning and powerful sprinkler system is an important step in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew while at sea. It is our hope that the proper attention will be paid to this matter, so that everyone on board can rest assured that they are in the best and most prepared hands.

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Published on August 1, 2016

Categories: Cruise Ship Fires

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Cruise ship evacuated after fire

A small cruise ship operated by French line Ponant has been evacuated after an engine room fire.

The 264-passenger Le Boreal was sailing off the Falkland Islands early Wednesday when the fire broke out, according to a Ponant statement sent to USA TODAY.

There were no injuries to passengers or crew from the fire, which was "of a technical nature" and has been extinguished, the line says.

Ponant says Le Boreal's passengers were transferred to sister ship L’Austral, which also was in the region, and are being taken to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands to be repatriated to their homes. The remainder of the Le Boreal sailing has been cancelled.

New cruise ships for 2015: Ponant's Le Lyrial

Ponant currently is assessing damage to the ship, the line says.

Engine Room Fire Forces Boreal Evacuation

• November 19, 2015

Thursday update: The ship is now anchored with officers aboard, two tugboats helped secure the vessel and provided firefighting services.

British forces based in the Falkland Islands responded to a distress call by the 10,000-ton cruise ship Le Boreal from Ponant Cruises on November 18, according to a statement.

The ship reported suffering a major engine room fire, which caused the loss of all power and left the ship drifting.

View video here.

A north-westerly gale placed the ship in real danger of grounding on Cape Dolphin, East Falkland.

The captain ordered the ship, with 347 passengers and crew, to be abandoned early yesterday morning.

According to one source familiar with the operation, passengers were in lifeboats for up to seven hours. Additionally, he said that the company tries to keep its ships close to each other in remote areas, with the sister-ship, the Austral, also taking some passengers.

Working closely with the Falkland Islands Government, British Forces enacted a major search and rescue plan.

Two Royal Air Force Sea King Search and Rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with two other support helicopters, a C130 Hercules and a Voyager aircraft for command and control. The Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Clyde was despatched to the scene, as were Dutch tugs which support British Forces in the Falkland Islands.

In an operation coordinated from Mount Pleasant, Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopters, supported by British International and Bristows helicopters, successfully winched 79 people from the deck of the Le Boreal and from two life rafts in the water.

All of these evacuees were brought to the British Forces Base at Mount Pleasant where they received care, clothing, food and medical attention. HMS Clyde assisted two further lifeboats with over 200 evacuees on board, ensuring they were brought to safety.

All passengers and crew from Le Boreal have been accounted for and are being looked after on the Falkland Islands. The vessel itself is now in a stable condition and two Dutch Tugs, under contract to British Forces, are now assisting to bring the vessel alongside in the Falkland Islands for a detailed assessment of her condition.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “This successful rescue in the Falklands this morning demonstrates how our Armed Forces are always ready to help those in peril. The swift action taken by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force crews, working with civilian counterparts, saved many lives and prevented this developing into a human tragedy.”

Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Cdre Darren Bone, said:

“We responded with everything we had yesterday to assist in what was an extremely complex and hazardous rescue operation in difficult conditions but I am delighted that we can report all of the passengers and crew of the vessel are safe and well and the vessel itself in a stable condition. This was a huge team effort involving close liaison with the Falkland Islands Government and I am enormously impressed with the reaction by all the British forces involved, it was an exemplary performance all round.”

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Once you have made your reservation, and right up to your return from your trip, the Concierge Service help you plan and develop your tailor-made trip.

Information & reservations +33 (0)4 91 26 62 20 [email protected]

Technical Specificity

Services provided

• 24-hour room service
• Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
• Individually-controlled air conditioning
• Dressing room with shelves and closet
• Dressing table and hairdryer
• Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
• Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
• Electronic safe
• Direct line telephone
• Bose Bluetooth speaker
• Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
• 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
• Three ADA staterooms

Your stateroom category

Stateroom size

• - than 269 ft²
• + than 269 ft²

Superior Stateroom Deck 3

Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3

Prestige Stateroom Deck 4

Prestige Stateroom Deck 5

Prestige Stateroom Deck 6

Deluxe Suite Deck 6

Prestige Suite Deck 5

Prestige Suite Deck 6

Owner's Suite Deck 6

• CruiseMapper

Le Boreal accidents and incidents

Length (LOA) 142 m / 466 ft

  Tracker   Ship Wiki

CruiseMapper's Le Boreal cruise ship accidents, incidents and law news reports relate to a 264-passenger vessel owned by Ponant Cruises . Our Le Boreal accidents page contains reports made by using official data from renown online news media sources, US Coast Guard and Wikipedia.

Here are also reported latest updates on cruise law news related to ashore and shipboard crimes still investigated by the police. Among those could be arrests, filed lawsuits against the shipowner / cruise line company, charges and fines, grievances, settled / withdrawn legal actions, lost cases, virus outbreaks , etc.

• fire – 2015
• deaths - overboard (2018 - crew during drydock in Valparaiso Chile)

You can add more details on reported here accident or submit new / your own Le Boreal ship incident ("Cruise Minus" report) via CruiseMapper's contact form .

Russian cruise ship M.V. Lomonosov burns in Arkhangelsk region

A fire broke out on the upper deck of the M.V. Lomonosov cruise ship in the Arkhangelsk region (Russian Federation). This ship has caught fire before, according to the Russian Emergencies Ministry and Russian media.

According to the Russian ministry, the upper deck of the ship, covering an area of 936 square meters, is on fire. The ship is currently under repair.

Efforts are being made to extinguish the fire using 12 pieces of equipment, with 42 firefighters working at the scene.

Local authorities have stated that there are no people inside the ship.

On May 13, the Northwestern Transport Prosecutor's Office announced that an inspection had been organized due to the fire on the cruise ship.

M.V. Lomonosov was burning a year ago

According to the news edition Fontanka.ru, the fire on the M.V. Lomonosov cruise ship was extinguished approximately a year ago in May 2023.

The fire occurred in the engine compartment on the lower deck while the ship was in dry dock at the Arkhangelsk repair and maintenance base. The fire was classified as 1-bis, indicating a risk of fire spreading. Reports indicate that people evacuated the area on their own.