Oct 28 1400 UTC Update: It was decided to take damaged ship back to Palermo, she limped towards Palermo at some 6 knots speed. At 1430 UTC CRUISE AUSONIA was approaching Palermo, to be docked or anchored in about an hour.
Cruise ship CRUISE AUSONIA with 337 passengers on board suffered fire in engine room, at around 0200 UTC Oct 28 in Tyrrhenian sea while en route from Palermo to Livorno, Italy. Reportedly, fire was extinguished, and the ship still has one engine running. It was said, that the ship continued voyage albeit at a reduced speed. But according to track, the ship ran out and started to drift or moving at minimal speed since 0400 UTC, northwest of small island of Ustica, north of Palermo. Passenger ro-ro ship MAJESTIC (IMO 9015735, GT 33057) is nearby, tug or tugs already on site or moving in to assist.
Cruise ship CRUISE AUSONIA, IMO 9227429, GT 32728, built 2002, flag Italy, operator GRIMALDI EUROMED SPA, Passenger capacity: 1.800, Garage capacity: 2.400 l/m + 500 cars.
