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Italian cruise ship adrift off Seychelles taken in tow | Italian cruise ship adrift off Seychelles taken in tow |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An Italian cruise ship left adrift in the Indian Ocean with more than 1,000 people on board following a power failure has been taken in tow. | |
A French fishing vessel is taking the Costa Allegra to a small island in the Seychelles, where it is expected to arrive on Wednesday. | |
A fire in the ship's generator room on Monday caused it to lose all power. | A fire in the ship's generator room on Monday caused it to lose all power. |
The ship is from the same fleet as the Costa Concordia, which capsized off the Italian coast in January, killing 32. | The ship is from the same fleet as the Costa Concordia, which capsized off the Italian coast in January, killing 32. |
The BBC's Katy Watson on the Seychelles says that the ship is being towed to Desroches island, near Alphonse island, at the south-west end of the Seychelles. | |
Once there the passengers will be disembarked to the one hotel on the island, and then await transfer by air to the main Seychelles island of Mahe. | |
That process could prove lengthy, since only planes with a capacity of 20 passengers can land on Desroches. | |
Tugs sent from Mahe were due to meet the Costa Allegra at around 0900 GMT, our correspondent adds. | |
The vessel has no air-conditioning or cooking facilities and an emergency generator powering the radio "could fail at any minute", the Italian coast guard says. | The vessel has no air-conditioning or cooking facilities and an emergency generator powering the radio "could fail at any minute", the Italian coast guard says. |
Earlier, Commander Cosimo Nicastro, from the Italian coast guard, confirmed that the French-registered ocean-going trawler had reached the ship. | |
The ship's owner, Costa Cruises, has stressed that the Allegra - which had been drifting about 32km (20 miles) from Alphonse island - is steady and conditions are safe. No-one has been injured, officials said. | |
The company says it is liaising with passengers' families via their emergency contact numbers, and has reached two-thirds of them. Contact has been made with the relatives of all the crew. | The company says it is liaising with passengers' families via their emergency contact numbers, and has reached two-thirds of them. Contact has been made with the relatives of all the crew. |
Families in the UK can call the company's emergency line on 020 7940 3300. | Families in the UK can call the company's emergency line on 020 7940 3300. |
Distress signal | |
Italian authorities have directed three merchant ships and another fishing vessel towards the stricken cruise ship. | Italian authorities have directed three merchant ships and another fishing vessel towards the stricken cruise ship. |
Authorities in the Seychelles earlier said that a plane had flown overhead and reported that the ship did not appear to be in danger. | Authorities in the Seychelles earlier said that a plane had flown overhead and reported that the ship did not appear to be in danger. |
The ship is at the southern end of the seas that are vulnerable to attacks by Somali pirates. | |
But a government spokesman told the BBC that attacks in the area had decreased in the past year as security improved. | |
The ship sailed with nine armed guards on board, and more are stationed on the French fishing vessel. Pirates in the area have never seized a cruise ship. | |
A government plane is also patrolling overhead. | |
Costa Cruises said that the ship sent out a distress signal when the fire broke out, and all passengers and crew not involved in fighting the fire assembled at the muster stations. | Costa Cruises said that the ship sent out a distress signal when the fire broke out, and all passengers and crew not involved in fighting the fire assembled at the muster stations. |
Most electric lights on board the ship are off as the batteries are being used to keep essential machinery going. | Most electric lights on board the ship are off as the batteries are being used to keep essential machinery going. |
A spokesman said the situation on board was calm. | |
There are 636 passengers and 413 crew on board the Costa Allegra, which left Madagascar on Saturday. | There are 636 passengers and 413 crew on board the Costa Allegra, which left Madagascar on Saturday. |
It was due to arrive in the Seychelles on Tuesday. | It was due to arrive in the Seychelles on Tuesday. |
Further destinations on its itinerary include Alexandria and Naples. | |
A facility on Costa Cruises' website allowing people to track the Allegra's position says that "data transmission is temporarily suspended". | A facility on Costa Cruises' website allowing people to track the Allegra's position says that "data transmission is temporarily suspended". |
The company says the Allegra received its regularly scheduled maintenance in dry dock in October 2011. | The company says the Allegra received its regularly scheduled maintenance in dry dock in October 2011. |
The Costa Concordia ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio on 13 January. | The Costa Concordia ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio on 13 January. |
The Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, has been accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all those aboard were evacuated. He denies any wrongdoing | The Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, has been accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all those aboard were evacuated. He denies any wrongdoing |
Are you on board the ship? Do you have friends or family on board? Please get in touch using the form below. | Are you on board the ship? Do you have friends or family on board? Please get in touch using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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