One crew member died after a fire erupted aboard a tourist vessel bound for Saint Martin’s island on Saturday morning, narrowly sparing 193 waiting passengers.

The blaze broke out in the engine room of the ship ‘The Atlantic Cruise’ at around 7 a.m. on December 27 as it docked at the Nunia Chora BIWTA ghat in Cox’s Bazar to board passengers. Fire Service and Coast Guard units worked to bring the flames under control. Officials later recovered the charred body of crew member Nur Kamal (35) from a cabin. He is believed to have been asleep when the fire started.

Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners’ Association, confirmed the fire began before any tourists could board. “A section of the passengers have been sent to Saint Martin on another ship,” he said. “Remaining passengers will travel tomorrow.”

Atlantic Cruise officer Mohammad Ismail said a short circuit likely caused the fire. The deceased crew member, Nur Kamal from Teknaf’s Hnila, was sleeping after his nightshift duty. All booked tourists were being sent to Saint Martin via other vessels, he added, with the full extent of the damage still to be assessed.

The Cox’s Bazar district administration has formed an investigation committee. “An inquiry is underway to find the source of the fire,” said Cox’s Bazar Sadar UNO Tanzila Tasnim.