The liveaboard Mandarin Siren, part of the Worldwide Dive and Sail group, has caught fire and subsequently sunk. The vessel was based around Raja Ampat, Indonesia, and it si suspected that an electrical fault caused the fire. The guests were diving at the time of the incident and no one was hurt with the group being picked up by the S/Y Indo Siren and subsequently repatriated.

Worldwide Dive and Sail have endeavoured to contact all those who had been booked on the vessel for trips in the future, but if anyone has any queries, they ask that you email them, or contact your agent.

We are very sad to have to announce a very unfortunate incident on the S/Y Mandarin Siren.

During a recent diving trip, in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesia, a fire broke out below decks while the guests were on a morning dive. The origin of the fire is not yet fully confirmed but we believe that it was caused by an electrical fault of the tumble dryer in the laundry room and quickly spread to the engine room. The guests were not aboard at the time and therefore were never in any danger. Our crew did everything they could but in the end were unable to contain the blaze and were forced to abandon the vessel which was subsequently lost.

No one was hurt in the accident and for that we are incredibly grateful – no matter how great the loss to us it could have been very much worse.

Our other Indonesian vessel, the S/Y Indo Siren, was very near at the time of the accident and steamed immediately to pick up the guests and crew from the tender. A speedboat was then dispatched to pick everyone up from the S/Y Indo Siren and return them as quickly as possible to Sorong where they were provided with fresh clothing, accommodation and assistance from our staff. The next day they were flown to Jakarta where fleet owner Frank and the team in Indonesia were there to meet them. All the guests were assisted in obtaining emergency travel documents and re-arranging travel and they subsequently flew home to be with their families over New Year.

We have endeavored to inform all our of guests who had made bookings on the S/Y Mandarin Siren, whether booked directly with us or through a booking agent. If you had a booking and have not yet been in contact please email or call us or your agent as soon as you are able.

For all of us at Worldwide Dive and Sail this is a shock and a great loss, but as said above it could have been very much worse. We are very thankful that none of the guests or the crew were injured or worse.

As a fleet we will continue to offer diving liveaboard safaris throughout Indonesia aboard the S/Y Indo Siren.

Thank you very much indeed for your concern and also many thanks to everyone else who has sent their condolences in the past days.

Best wishes for 2012 from all at the Siren Fleet