Xcaret Ferry Suspended After Engine Fire

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — A ferry operated by the company Xcaret Xailing has been suspended from service after a fire broke out in its engine room during the Cozumel to Playa del Carmen route. The incident occurred on August 26 at approximately 7:00 a.m. while the vessel was transporting 65 passengers.

According to witnesses, internal sensors detected smoke in the passenger area, which immediately activated the ship’s alarms. Although no injuries were reported, the situation generated moments of nervousness among the travelers.

Upon arrival at the Playa del Carmen dock, the Port Captaincy — a unit dependent on the Unidad de Capitanías de Puerto y Asuntos Marítimos (Unicapam) — ordered the vessel to be docked in isolation to allow for a federal inspection. Initially, only the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. routes were suspended, but hours later it was announced the ship would be out of service for the remainder of the day.

Personnel from the Secretary of the Navy, port authorities, and representatives of Xcaret Xailing were deployed to the terminal to supervise the vessel’s arrival. Due to security protocols, other ferry companies operating on the route had to disembark their passengers at a different section of the dock.

This episode revives the discussion concerning the safety and maintenance of vessels in Quintana Roo. According to testimonies provided to Info-Transportes, the Xcaret ferry is reported to have accumulated over 6,000 hours of operation without receiving preventive maintenance.

The 2018 Fire

This is also the second similar incident to occur at the docks concessioned to Jesús Vega Arriaga, which has raised questions about the supervision of port infrastructure.

The most serious precedent in the region dates back to February 2018, when an explosion on a ferry operated by the naviera Barcos del Caribe, linked to former governor Roberto Borge Angulo, left at least 18 people injured at the Playa Fundadores dock. Following that accident, the company faced heavy criticism and was ultimately removed from the market, with its ships sent for scrapping.

In the case of Xcaret Xailing, the Port Captaincy will be responsible for determining if the vessel can return to service or if it must remain out of operation until safe conditions for passengers can be guaranteed. For now, the suspension represents a blow to the company in a highly competitive sector.