Costa Allegra Adrift in Pirate Infested Waters

The Costa Allegra cruise liner carrying more than 1,000 people was adrift without power in the pirate-infested Indian Ocean on Monday after a fire erupted in its generator room. Officials said the blaze was extinguished without causing injuries.

The fire aboard the Costa Allegra occurred only six weeks after one of its sister ships, the Costa Concordia, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing and presumed dead. Both ships are operated by Costa Crociere SpA, which is owned by the Florida-based Carnival Corp.

Tugs were not expected to arrive until Tuesday afternoon at the earliest in the waters that regularly inhabitaed by Pirates.  Italian coast guard officials said a large French ocean fishing boat could be the first vessel to reach the stricken cruise liner late Monday night.