Aqua Amazon lost
A fire and explosion aboard Aqua Expeditions’ river vessel the Aqua Amazon in mid-july resulted in the sinking of the six-year-old ship and the tragic loss of life. Aqua Amazon operated a series of three-, four- and seven-night voyages on the Ucayali, Marañon and Amazon in Peru.
The boutique 24-passenger Aqua Amazon was moored in Iquitos for re-stocking at the time of the incident on Saturday 16 July, 2016.
Although there were no passengers on board the high-end river craft at the time of the incident, five crew and two external suppliers were unaccounted for. Eight crew members were also injured as a result of the explosion, with three in intensive care.
Aqua Expeditions Founder and CEO Francesco Galli Zugaro said the families of the victims have been kept abreast of the latest developments.
“Many of the crew have been with me from 2007 when we started. I considered them dear friends, not just employees,” Zugaro remarked. Preliminary investigations are underway to find the source of the fire and explosion.
Amazon was a favourite among travel companies around the world and was utilised by the likes of Scenic and Avalon Waterways in the past. The product was also showcased on Channel Nine’s travel program Getaway a number of years ago.
Guests with future bookings on Aqua Amazon have either been re-accommodated onto other Aqua Expeditions’ other South American ship, Aria Amazon, or reassigned to other river cruisers.
Earlier this year, Aqua Expeditions announced it would launch a new 20-suite Amazon River cruise ship nest year, which was set to inherit the name Aqua Amazon. Construction on what was to be the line’s third vessel in the region is slated to commence in December.
Aqua Expeditions is the smallest cruise line member of Cruise Lines International Association.