Kategorie: News
Nautilus One liveaboard vessel catches fire and sinks
On January 25th, the safari vessel "Nautilus One" caught fire in the Maldives, on its way from Hulhumale to the northern island of H.Dh. Hanimaadhoo and sank. Fortunately, the crew was able to save themselves fully and uninjured on the transit to the north.
A liveaboard trip in the exotic island world of the Maldives on a beautiful ship is a dream for every diver. The journey of the Nautilus One now ended quite differently than imagined. As the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) announced, a report of a ship, the Nautilus One, on fire was received this morning.
Six people, all crew members, were reportedly on board when the liveaboard vessel caught fire at approximately 3:39 a.m. All managed to escape onto another dive vessel. Firefighters and several lifeboats were on the scene trying to put out the fire.
"As firefighters extinguished the flames, the vessel then sank around 6:44," said Major Ibrahim Azim, MNDF press officer. "The vessel sank approximately 13 nautical miles from the island of K. Kaashidhoo."
The Nautilus fleet consists of the two ships, Nautilus One and Nautilus Two. They were both built in the traditional Maldivian style using high quality wood. For the construction of the two boats, only high-quality materials and state-of-the-art technology were used, according to the owner of the Nautilus fleet. Both vessels had seven well-equipped guest cabins, with space for up to 16 people, as well as air conditioning and private bathrooms in each case.<
The fire on the Nautilus One started at the bow near the anchor winch. The fire extinguishing by the crew was not successful and the ship had to be abandoned. The Nautilus One had been sailing in the Maldives since 1998 and had probably visited almost every dive site on the island republic during the countless nautical miles. How the more than 30-meter-long safari ship, caught fire, is not yet known.
More information on Nautilus One
Nautilus One on Taucher.Net