At least one person died during a sudden cruise ship fire on a vessel en route to Singapore, with another four hospitalized.
The incident happened at around 4:00 a.m. local time on Friday, February 20, aboard the Liberia-registered World Legacy ship, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Preliminary findings reveal that the fire broke out in the lounge area of Deck 9, the MPA shared. Investigations, however, are ongoing.
271 passengers, 139 of whom are Singaporeans, and 338 crew members were rescued from the small vessel. Four guests were taken to the hospital, while one crew member, an Indonesian national, was pronounced dead and brought ashore.
Everyone was disembarked at the HarbourFront Ferry Terminal in Singapore, with Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics and emergency technicians on-site to provide medical support.
"MPA has established a safety zone around the vessel and is issuing navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels to keep clear," continues the official MPA press release.
Travel agency Dragon Cruises, a Singapore-based company that manages business development for World Legancy's parent company, told a local news outlet that they're fully cooperating with the authorities.
"Guests with upcoming affected sailings are being contacted directly and will receive full refunds," a spokesperson told The Straits Times.
"We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones and are in contact with the family to provide support during this difficult time," they continued.
According to The Straits Times, one passenger — who was only identified as Mr. Yang — spoke with the Chinese outlet Shin Min Daily News about the experience, claiming he was in the casino when the fire broke out.
He followed other guests out of the casino and saw thick smoke billowing from the upper deck of the vessel, resulting in a "noisy and chaotic" scene.
The World Legacy is a cruiseferry built in 1982 and began operating for World Cruises in Dec. 2025, according to Ship Pax. Previously, she sailed for Moby Lines as the Moby Zazà from 2015 to 2025. World Legacy measures around 21,000 gross tons and has 300 cabins on board.
"World Legacy is a new-generation cruise resort designed as a flexible offshore leisure destination, combining the convenience of short visits with the option for overnight and multi-night stays. Guests may join for part of the day, enjoy a full day at sea, or extend their visit with overnight accommodation in one of the ship’s cabins, depending on their preferences and travel plans," reads the cruise line's website.
Guests can embark from either Singapore or Malaysia. Ferry services operate from the HarbourFront Centre in Singapore and the Puteri Harbour Ferry Terminal in Malaysia. Sailing time lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to just over an hour.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
