Egypt's liveaboard industry received another blow today with the news that the Emperor Seven Seas has been burned out by a fire while docked in Port Ghalib marina.
Thankfully, no crew or passengers were injured, and while the vessel is a total loss, everyone was safely evacuated as the fire took hold and could not be dealt with.
Also read: More dive-boat fires bedevil Thailand
A statement from Emperor said: ‘In the early hours of Thursday, 13 March, Emperor Seven Seas was moored in Port Ghalib when a fire broke out that could unfortunately not be contained.
Emperor Divers are very grateful to our dedicated and professional crew who, along with the guests onboard, executed emergency procedures which ensured everyone was evacuated from the vessel unharmed.
Also read: Red Sea liveaboard abandoned after striking reef
The situation is under control and all clients and crew are safely ashore in Port Ghalib where the Emperor Divers ground team are assisting with their needs.'
Emperor Divers is one of the most-established dive operators in Egypt, with a fleet of liveaboards, dayboats and dive centres throughout the Red Sea. Seven Seas only joined the Emperor fleet in 2023, joining Emperor Elite, Emperor Superior and Emperor Asmaa, swiftly becoming their flagship vessel.
All of the Liveaboard & Dive boat fires in the Red Sea, Indonesia, Thailand makes one wonder what can we do to ensure best safe practices are enforced in International waters? Every nation, in their own territorial waters, has some form of Coast Guard that should be conducting safety inspections, qualifying or inspecting qualifications of crew and looking out for the health and welfare of the tourist industry in their back yard. What’s broken here?