The Orient Queen cruise ship was capsized by the ferocity of the Beirut explosions. AFP
The Orient Queen cruise ship was capsized by the ferocity of the Beirut explosions. AFP
The Orient Queen cruise ship was capsized by the ferocity of the Beirut explosions. AFP
The Orient Queen cruise ship was capsized by the ferocity of the Beirut explosions. AFP

Beirut explosion: 'Orient Queen' cruise liner capsizes after blast

One of the ship's crew members was killed in the blast and another is reported missing

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

August 06, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The Orient Queen cruise ship capsized at her berth in Beirut following Lebanon's deadly explosion on Tuesday.

One of the ship's crew members was killed in the blast and another is reported missing.

Several other crew members are in hospitals across the city, said the ship's operator Abou Merhi Cruises, who called the incident a tragedy.

The 120-metre long vessel capsized overnight in Beirut. Tuesday's explosion caused damage to the berth that led to the ship taking on too much water.

Extensive damage was also reported at the head office of Abou Merhi Cruises, in the Awwal Bliss area of Beirut.

The Orient Queen had capacity for up to 300 passengers. At the time of the blast, no travellers were on board because summer cruising operations had been cancelled due to the coroanivurs pandemic.

The five-star cruise liner typically sails from Beirut Port to five destinations in Europe and Asia during summer. Had normal operations been in place, it’s likely that the cruise liner would have been at sea at the time of the explosion.

“It’s a sad, sad day for all of us,” said the cruise operator on social media. “Abou Merhi Cruises has lost a precious soul in the tragedy that took place at the port of Beirut. Heilemariam Reta (Hailey) from Ethiopia.”

"Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of Mustafa Airout from Syria who was at the port and is still missing," continued the post.

A representative of the cruise operator said Mr Airout had last been seen "very close to the explosion".

A woman stands inside a damaged restaurant. AP Photo
A woman stands inside a damaged restaurant. AP Photo
People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
Workers are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
Workers are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
A man sleeps near a damaged car near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. REUTERS
A man sleeps near a damaged car near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. REUTERS
Workers line at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
Workers line at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
A view of the port of Beirut on January 25, 2020, left, and on August 5, 2020, a day after the explosion. AFP
A view of the port of Beirut on January 25, 2020, left, and on August 5, 2020, a day after the explosion. AFP
Bride Israa Seblani poses for a picture in the same place where she was taking her wedding photos at the moment of the explosion. Reuters
Bride Israa Seblani poses for a picture in the same place where she was taking her wedding photos at the moment of the explosion. Reuters
People stand with their belongings as they leave their damaged homes. Reuters
People stand with their belongings as they leave their damaged homes. Reuters
A Lebanese man shows injuries on his back after the massive explosion in Beirut. EPA
A Lebanese man shows injuries on his back after the massive explosion in Beirut. EPA
Men are seen sitting inside a damaged home, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
Men are seen sitting inside a damaged home, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
A pedestrian takes photos of a badly damaged building in Beirut. Bloomberg
A pedestrian takes photos of a badly damaged building in Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese Druze clerics check damaged cars. AP Photo
Lebanese Druze clerics check damaged cars. AP Photo
A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by the explosion. AP Photo
A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by the explosion. AP Photo
People walk with their belongings in the area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
People walk with their belongings in the area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
The curtains in the rooms of the Le Gray hotel in the Lebanese capital Beirut swaying in the wind. AFP
The curtains in the rooms of the Le Gray hotel in the Lebanese capital Beirut swaying in the wind. AFP
A view of a damaged Fransa Bank. EPA
A view of a damaged Fransa Bank. EPA
People check damaged vehicles. EPA
People check damaged vehicles. EPA
Volunteers clean the streets amid the wreckage. Reuters
Volunteers clean the streets amid the wreckage. Reuters
People carry belongings after evacuating their damaged housing units at area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
People carry belongings after evacuating their damaged housing units at area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
A destroyed Bank Audi SAL branch stands in Beirut. Bloomberg
A destroyed Bank Audi SAL branch stands in Beirut. Bloomberg
A worker wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance to a destroyed Fransabank SAL branch in Beirut. Bloomberg
A worker wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance to a destroyed Fransabank SAL branch in Beirut. Bloomberg
Volunteers carry brooms as they walk to clean the streets. Reuters
Volunteers carry brooms as they walk to clean the streets. Reuters
A woman sits in front of a damaged building. EPA
A woman sits in front of a damaged building. EPA
A general view of the Beirut port area after the massive explosion. EPA
A general view of the Beirut port area after the massive explosion. EPA
An aerial view shows the massive damage done to the Electricity of Lebanon building. AFP
An aerial view shows the massive damage done to the Electricity of Lebanon building. AFP
A view of the damaged building of the Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. EPA
A view of the damaged building of the Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. EPA
Volunteers gather aid supplies to be distributed for those affected by Tuesday's blast. Reuters
Volunteers gather aid supplies to be distributed for those affected by Tuesday's blast. Reuters
Lebanese men clears rubble, one day after the explosion at the Beirut Port, in the Gemayzeh area. EPA
Lebanese men clears rubble, one day after the explosion at the Beirut Port, in the Gemayzeh area. EPA
Lebanese youth salvage a velvet sofa from a destroyed apartment in the Gemayzeh area of Beirut. EPA
Lebanese youth salvage a velvet sofa from a destroyed apartment in the Gemayzeh area of Beirut. EPA
Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
An injured Lebanese shop owner sits at her desk selling her wares. EPA
An injured Lebanese shop owner sits at her desk selling her wares. EPA
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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