So what could have happened on board a modern ferry operating on the popular Oslo–Christianshavn (Denmark) route? The following investigation discovered numerous factors, one compounding another. The sound of the fire alarm was so quiet that some passengers simply didn’t wake up. The interior finish was made of materials that emitted poisonous fumes during the combustion process. It should also be mentioned that the crew, mainly Portuguese, spoke neither English nor Norwegian and were not trained in fire prevention activities. The crew, led by the captain, deserted the sinking ferry before the evacuation of all the passengers was complete in defiance of all generally accepted rules.