A cruise ship run by the owners of the Costa Concordia is adrift in the Indian Ocean, with more than 1,000 passengers and crew stranded after a fire in the ship's engine room.

Costa Cruises said no injuries had been reported on the Costa Allegra after the blaze, which was put out before it spread to other areas of the ship. A spokesman said 21 Britons were on board.

The accident – possibly caused by an electrical fault according to one company source – will further damage the reputation of Costa Cruises, which is already facing multiple law suits after 32 passengers and crew died when the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks in Italy on 13 January.

The Costa Allegra, carrying 636 passengers and 413 crew, was on Monday night drifting, with only emergency lights operating, in force four seas, 200 miles south-west of the Seychelles and about 20 miles from Alphonse Island, an area frequented by pirates.

Srdjana Janosevic, a spokeswoman for the Seychelles president, said: "If pirates attack, the armed guards on board will respond. But as far as I am aware, no pirates have been sighted in the area."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/27/costa-concordia-sister-ship-adrift