On the morning of December 27 local time, the approximately 30-meter-long passenger ferry “Atlantic Cruise” caught fire in the engine room while preparing to dock near Nuniyachara in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, to pick up tourists bound for St. Martin's Island. The blaze rapidly spread to the superstructure, destroying multiple sections of the vessel.

At the time of the incident, approximately 200 tourists were waiting at the pier to board the vessel. Due to the sudden outbreak of fire, they were unable to board the ship, unexpectedly avoiding potential major casualties. However, one crew member who was resting inside the cabin was unable to escape in time and tragically lost his life.

Local fire departments and the Bangladesh Navy swiftly arrived at the scene to assist in extinguishing the blaze, but the fire remained uncontrolled for several hours. Relevant authorities have now launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Safety hazards in such maritime vessels warrant vigilance—especially during peak tourist seasons. The adequacy of vessel maintenance, emergency protocols, and crew staffing directly impacts the safety of passengers and crew. It is hoped this incident will spur local authorities to strengthen water transportation safety management and prevent such tragedies from recurring.