Updated: Fire aboard True North. All safe.

36-passenger luxury expedition ship, True North, caught fire this afternoon off Munster, near Perth, just after 5pm today.

According to The West:

Passengers and crew escaped unharmed after a luxury cruise vessel caught fire off Munster yesterday.

The fire, on the True North vessel, started while the boat was moored about 5.15pm.

The blaze caused $100,000 damage and is believed to have been caused by radiant heat from a light.

Fire crews from Fremantle, Hope Valley, Murdoch and Success were called to the vessel after a report of a blaze on the third level.

The passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the ship and the fire was contained within about 30 minutes.
It is not known how many were on board the vessel.

According to owner, Craig Howson, who is travelling aboard the vessel, all passengers are safe and well.

“Everyone’s fine and we intend to resume this voyage and the rest of the season.”

Update: Passengers are being treated to three days additional shore excursions at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort while the ship is cleaned and readied to resume sailing. Passengers are expecting to be back aboard on Monday to resume the full West Coast Explorer itinerary. Expeditioncruising.com understands rags in a storage locker began smouldering when they came in contact with a light globe.