Investigators are looking at the possibility of arson at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) Nagasaki yard, following the third fire incident in the space of a month.
Firefighters were called to the Japanese yard yesterday where carboard and insulation material caught fire aboard the AIDA Prima, one of two vessels MHI is building for Germany’s AIDA Cruises.
Sunday’s incident follows an electrical wiring fire near a theatre space on January 11, and a cabin fire involving a piece of cloth on January 13.
The fires came after delivery of the ship, originally planned for March 2015, was repeatedly delayed amid design changes. The current delivery deadline is this April.
MHI is no stranger to fires on nearly-built cruiseships – the one that decimated the Diamond Princess 12 years ago resulted in one of the largest maritime insurance claims ever.
