An engine-room fire aboard the Hurtigruten ship Nordlys (1994/11,204gt) left two dead and nine injured shortly after 0900 on 15 September, as the vessel was just outside Alesund, in north-west Norway, during the course of a regular northbound sailing between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Although licensed to carry 691 passengers, there were only 207 aboard, plus 55 crew, all of whom were safely evacuated ashore and repatriated home. Rescue teams fought the blaze on the vessel, which at one stage was listing at 22 degrees, before being stabilised and docked, while fire fighting continued.
The cause of the fire has not been made known, although media reports suggest there may have been an explosion in the engine room. Nordlys was later towed to the nearby shipyard of Fiskerstrand Verft for drydocking and an inspection to determine the extent of the damage.
