The MY Blue Voyager has become the second scuba diving liveaboard to suffer a catastrophic fire in as many days, as it burned to the waterline while in port near Malé, in the Maldives.
The news follows swiftly after the sinking of MV Nouran near Daedalus Reef in the Egyptian Red Sea.
Blue Voyager was one of the most popular liveaboards in the Maldives, formerly owned by Blue O Two and now Master Liveaboards since the former’s acquisition by the latter.
No divers were on board at the time the blaze broke out as the boat was undergoing maintenance while moored at Hulhumalé, the small reclaimed island north of the Maldives’ international airport.
All the crew members working on the boat were uninjured and safely evacuated after initially attempting to fight the blaze.
Master Liveaboards put out a short statement addressing the fire:
‘After attempting to control the fire, all crew evacuated the boat safely. We are already evaluating the issues created by the fire on upcoming trips. Guests who are likely to be affected will be contacted in due course.
‘We are relieved that this incident was not more serious and that everyone who was on board is safe.’
Although liveaboard fires are very rare, given the number of active vessels worldwide, there has been a spate of incidents during 2023 and 2024.
Sea Safari VII caught fire in Komodo in May this year and Indo Siren – also owned by Master Liveaboards – was destroyed by fire while touring Raja Ampat in December 2023.
A German woman died as a result of a fire on board the Egyptian liveaboard Sea Legend in March 2024 and three British divers were killed on board MV Hurricane in June 2023.
