Cruise ship – Page 4 – Shipwreck Log

Anthem of the Seas

February 9, 2016 Paul Hancock

On February 7, the 347 meter long, 10,500 dwt passenger cruise ship Anthem of the Seas sustained damage off Bayonne, New Jersey. The cruise ship was starting a seven-night voyage to Florida and Bahamas when it was struck by winds reaching 125 mph gusts and waves reaching 30 feet off Cape Hatteras. Passengers stayed terrified in their cabin while the storm raged. The storm proved to be too severe forcing the Anthem of the Seas to turn around and headed back to Bayonne. Reports state four passengers of the 4,500 on board suffered minor injuries. The vessel also sustained minor damage, but was never at risk of sinking. Authorities have stated an investigation has already been launched into why the cruise ship headed into a storm and possibly put passengers at risk. Owners of the Anthem of the Seas has promised to refund the passengers and a discount on a future cruise.

Le Boréal

November 19, 2015 Paul Hancock

On November 18, the 142 meter long passenger cruise ship Le Boréal became disabled while en route to South Georgia from Ushuaia, Argentina on a 15 day cruise in the South Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica. The Le Boréal had suffered an engine room fire while off the Falkland Islands. The crew was able to extinguish the blaze, but the cruise ship had sustained significant damage resulting with a total loss of all power. Adrift, the Le Boréal was being driven towards Cape Dolphin, East Falkland by a strong northwesterly gale. With no possibility of restoring power and a risk of going aground, the Le Boréal sent out a distress call and ordered everyone on board to abandon ship.

Authorities on the Falklands Islands received the call and with British Forces dispatched helicopters and vessels to the scene. When rescuers arrived on scene, they found multiple life rafts from the Le Boréal with over 200 persons while a small number still on the deck of the cruise ship. Rescue helicopters lifted 79 off the deck while the HMS Clyde rescued over 200 people from the life rafts.

Authorities later reported that all passengers and crew had been accounted and were safely taken to the Falklands. Two tugs were dispatched and was able to keep the Le Boréal from going aground. Reports state the tug and salvage crews were to assess the condition of the Le Boréal. No reports of injuries or pollution released.

Recurring Nightmare: 1999 Collision of Norwegian Dream

October 30, 2015 Paul Hancock

On August 24, 1999, the 230 meter long, 6731 dwt passenger cruise ship Norwegian Dream collided with the 294 meter long, 55527 dwt container ship Ever Decent in the English Channel. Around 1:15 a.m., the Norwegian Dream was en route to Dover, England from Zeebrugge, Belgium with 2,400 passengers when it struck the Ever Decent four miles southeast of the Falls Head Buoy. Passengers awoke hearing a loud bang and cruise ship shaking violently.

Frighten the passengers were mustered up on deck and told to put on life jackets. The crew inspected the vessel for damage and found a large section of the bow was crushed or had been torn away. On the deck the crew found 5 containers from the Ever Decent on the cruise ship’s deck. The containers held cyanide, but luckily they did not rupture. While severely damaged, the Norwegian Dream remained afloat and was able to reach Dover under its own power. Some 21 passengers suffered minor injuries.

The Ever Decent had sustained heavy damage from the collision. Several containers carrying paint on board had caught fire and multiple ballast tanks had been ruptured causing the vessel to develop a 40 degree list. Fire fighting tugs, RNLI lifeboats and Coast Guard vessels were later able to extinguish the blaze, but it required efforts from Dutch and UK fire fighters efforts over several days. Later, the disabled container ship was towed to Zeebrugge.