Crew Member Dies After Fire Breaks Out Aboard World Legacy off Singapore – 20 February 2026

On 20 February 2026, a serious fire broke out aboard the Liberia-flagged cruise vessel World Legacy, operated by Singapore-based World Cruises, while the ship was approaching Singapore waters in the early hours of the morning. The incident resulted in the death of one Indonesian crew member and prompted emergency response operations by Singapore maritime and firefighting authorities. All 271 passengers were safely evacuated to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and Civil Defence Force responded immediately. The vessel was anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage while investigation and structural assessment commenced.

The fire began in a lounge area on Deck 9 and was detected in the early morning hours. Crew members initiated onboard firefighting procedures and succeeded in containing the blaze before external responders arrived. Singapore Civil Defence Force marine firefighting teams subsequently boarded the vessel and fully extinguished the remaining flames. All 271 passengers were evacuated to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal as a precautionary measure, while a core operational team remained aboard the anchored vessel. Authorities established a safety zone around the ship and issued navigational warnings to nearby maritime traffic.

Passengers

• 271 onboard at the time of the fire; all safely evacuated to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal.

Crew

• 388 onboard; one fatality reported (Indonesian national).

Fatalities

• 1 crew member (Indonesian national) died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire.

Injuries

• 4 passengers transported by ambulance to hospital for medical evaluation; no other serious injuries reported.

Rescued

• All 271 passengers and 388 crew safely accounted for; passengers evacuated to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and Civil Defence Force responded immediately to the incident. Marine firefighting teams boarded the vessel and fully extinguished the fire. A safety zone was established around the ship and navigational warnings were issued to nearby maritime traffic. Relevant diplomatic and maritime authorities were notified due to the fatality.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Singapore maritime authorities. Classification society surveyors were scheduled to board the vessel to assess structural damage and determine repair requirements.

The vessel remains anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage pending completion of structural assessment and repair evaluation. The vessel's operational status and return to service timeline are subject to surveyor findings and regulatory clearance.