Costa Allegra Towed to Mahe instead Desroches

"The ship will be towed to Mahe," said a statement from Costa Crociere citing poor security and accommodation in case of landing hundreds of passengers and crew on the small island of Desroches.

"The landing on the island of Desroches not guarantee the security conditions necessary and appropriate to the ship's arrival and disembarkation of passengers," the company statement.

"In addition, logistical and hoteliers on the island are not enough: it would require, immediately after disembarking passengers using boats, with an immediate transfer of the ferry to Mahé Desroches," says Costa Crociere .

"It was decided to tow the ship to Mahe, also using the assistance of two tugs that are happening near the ship and that will increase his speed," the source said.

The building is currently also escorted alternately by the two planes a Seychellois, the other Indian. Seychelles hosts several foreign surveillance planes, which help them to cope with several years of attacks by Somali pirates.

Saturday, the cruise ship 188 meters long, with 636 passengers on board, representing 25 different nationalities, mostly Italians, French and Austrians, and 413 crew members, was heading to the Seychelles when he was hit by fire. He was then to join Oman and Egypt.