SINGAPORE: A fire broke out on a cruise ship en route to Singapore, killing one crew member, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said on Friday (February 20).

There were no Singaporeans among the 388 crew members. There were 224 passengers, of whom 185 were Singaporeans. No injuries were reported to other crew members or passengers.

MPA said the incident occurred around 4 a.m. on board the Liberian-flagged ship World Legacy, and the fire was quickly brought under control by the crew.

The ship is in stable condition and currently berthed at Raffles Reserved Anchorage near Semakau and Cenang Islands. A designated area within the Port of Singapore that is primarily used for special purposes such as ship repair and ship storage/unloading.

The MPA said its patrol boats, the police coastguard and the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SDFC) were searching for the vessel.

In response to a CNA inquiry, World Legacy said it was aware of the incident and was fully cooperating with authorities.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” it said, adding that it would provide further updates as they become available.

World Legacy, operated by World Cruises, operates on a “flexible” model that allows guests to choose their length of stay and embarkation from both Singapore and Malaysia, according to the cruise’s website.

According to previous media reports, World Legacy had canceled its maiden voyage two days before its scheduled opening on December 21 last year. Passengers also complained of brown tap water, malfunctioning elevators and weak air conditioning.