Early on 20 February, a serious fire broke out on board the Liberia-flagged Ro-Ro passenger vessel World Legacy while the ship was on passage to Singapore.
According to initial reports, the fire started at about 4:00am (Singapore time) on the vessel’s ninth deck. Emergency responders from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were dispatched to the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) confirmed the incident and reported the death of one crew member, an Indonesian national. No injuries among other crew members or passengers have been reported.
At the time of the incident, the 154.48-metre vessel, built in 1982, was carrying 271 passengers, including 139 Singapore citizens. Authorities moved quickly to evacuate those on board. An initial group of 190 passengers was safely evacuated and disembarked at HarbourFront Ferry Terminal, with the disembarkation of the remaining passengers continuing.
After the situation was stabilized, World Legacy proceeded to an anchorage in Singapore. MPA established a safety perimeter around the vessel and issued navigational advisories instructing nearby traffic to keep clear. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
A small team of crew members remained on board to conduct safety checks, maintain essential ship operations, and support the investigation.
