Cruise ship arrives in Seychelles port
NO POWER FOR 3 DAYS
VICTORIA, Seychelles – A disabled cruise ship docked in the island nation of the Seychelles yesterday after three days at sea without power. Dozens of officials flocked to the port to help passengers, some of whom applauded as the Costa Allegra neared shore.
The Seychelles Red Cross set up tents to assist any passengers needing medical help and embassy and consular officials were at the port to receive their citizens. Tour operators lined up dozens of buses to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort. Disembarkation of the more than 1,000 people onboard was expected to take several hours.
The Costa Allegra has been at sea with and without electricity since a fire broke out in the generator room on Monday, knocking out plumbing, showers, lights and air conditioning as the huge ship went adrift in tropical heat. The cause of the fire is unknown. A French fishing vessel towed the cruise ship to the Seychelles.
U.S. Consular Agent Travis Jensen said he was there to help ensure the health and safety of Americans onboard.
"We haven't been in contact with the ship because they were on battery power," he said. "No emergency evacuations have been reported."
Travel agents eager to help passengers ashore waited alongside diplomats and dozens of journalists.
"The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service. "I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."
The average age of passengers onboard the ship is 55 years, he said, and the heat and lack of hygiene could be uncomfortable for some of the older travelers. The weather in the Seychelles is hot and humid.