Calls for change after tourist boat catches fire in Hurghada, Egypt
In the same week an Egyptian liveaboard sank with the loss of one crew member, a tourist day-boat has been engulfed by flames near Hurghada.
The boat, Marina Dolphin, was carrying 30 passengers at the time of the incident, both foreign and Egyptian. All passengers and crew were reportedly safely evacuated by nearby boats, and no injuries have been reported.
Videos shared across social media show the boat’s upper deck ablaze, creating a haze of thick black smoke.
The fire occurred near Little Giftun Island, a popular destination for snorkelling and scuba diving. No official statement has yet been published and there is currently no information as the possible cause of the incident.
The Egyptian Red Sea is home to one of the largest fleets of tourist boats in the world, however, the number of incidents – some of which have resulted in fatalities – has caused concern among both visitors and tourism operators.
Egyptian newspaper Al Masry Youm reports that the incidents this week have led to calls from leading members within the tourist sector for more robust inspections of boats which ‘shift from dealing with accidents after they occur to preventing their recurrence.’
‘This can be achieved,’ writes Mohamed Elsayed Suleiman, ‘by implementing stricter controls on all boats operating in maritime activities, and subjecting them to periodic technical inspections that are not limited to paperwork, licenses, and insurance, but extend to reviewing all electrical and mechanical systems, firefighting equipment, and rescue devices.’
While the reputation of Egyptian maritime safety has struggled in recent years – with the UK’s Marine Accident and Investigation Branch (MAIB) issuing a caution to prospective travellers – it is worth noting that some operators have taken matters into their own hands to seek proper accreditation.
Tornado Marine, for example, one of the longest-established names in Egyptian liveaboard diving, had its fleet inspected by Australian safety experts MSI and, having made improvements to its vessels where necessary, received a five-star rating for its newest vessel, Cyclone Explorer.
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