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Introduction
A serious onboard fire occurred aboard the Liberia-flagged cruise vessel World Legacy in the early hours of February 20, 2026, while the ship was approaching Singapore waters. The incident resulted in the death of one crew member and prompted emergency response operations by Singapore maritime and firefighting authorities.
Details of the Incident
Fire Outbreak:
- The blaze reportedly began in a lounge area on Deck 9 of the vessel.
- Crew members initiated onboard firefighting procedures and succeeded in containing the fire before external responders arrived.
- Singapore Civil Defence Force marine firefighting teams later fully extinguished the remaining flames.
Casualties and Medical Response:
- Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) confirmed that 271 passengers and 388 crew were aboard at the time of the incident.
- One crew member, an Indonesian national, later died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire.
- Four passengers were transported by ambulance to a hospital for medical evaluation.
- No other serious injuries were reported.
Evacuation and Safety Measures:
- All passengers were evacuated to the HarbourFront Ferry Terminal following the incident.
- A core operational team remained aboard the vessel while it was anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage.
- Authorities established a safety zone around the ship and issued navigational warnings to nearby maritime traffic.
Investigation and Vessel Status:
- The cause of the fire remains under investigation by maritime authorities.
- Classification society surveyors were scheduled to board the ship to assess structural damage and determine repair requirements.
- Relevant diplomatic and maritime authorities were notified due to the fatality.
Operational Context:
- World Legacy, formerly the ferry Moby Zaza, is operated by Singapore-based World Cruises.
- The vessel had recently begun service in the regional cruise market.