MV COSTA ROMANTICA - Fire on board

[Ship's Agent]

Dear friends

According to the latest news the M/V Costa Romantica had a fire early this morning 13 miles off- Punta del Este/Uruguay with 1479 pax on board.

The crew handled the situation and fire was extinguished on the engine room however the ship is apparently " anchored" according to the company...while pax say that she is drifting ...

Uruguay navy has a ship on the spot to support pax & crew on board.

Further details are available as follows:-

http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Mundo/0,,MUL1018963-5602,00-CRUZEIRO+COM+BRASILEIROS+A+BORDO+ANCORA+NA+COSTA+D O+URUGUAI+APOS+SOFRER+INC.html

[TSS QUEEN ANNA MARIA]

Its sisterhip Costa Classica also caught fire outside the island of Paros, Greece in 2005. Fortunately it was contained in the area around the stern.