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Norwegian Cruise Line ship runs aground on reef in Bermuda Norwegian Cruise Line ship refloated after running aground on Bermuda reef
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of passengers will spend Tuesday night stuck aboard a Norwegian cruise ship after it ran aground as it tried to depart Bermuda, officials and passengers said. A Norwegian Cruise Line ship ran aground on a reef on Tuesday after leaving Bermuda but no one was injured and the vessel was later floated off at high tide, the company said.
Small boats, divers and tug boats circled the Norwegian Dawn ship as officials tried to figure out how to solve the situation, according to officials. The Norwegian Dawn was on a week-long Boston to Bermuda cruise with 2,443 passengers and 1,059 crew, the world’s third-largest cruise operator said in a statement.
An official with Bermuda’s Rescue Coordination Center, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the ship hit the reef near Bermuda’s North Channel. “All guests and crew are safe and there were absolutely no injuries,” Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line said.
The official, who was not authorised to talk to the media, said there are 2,675 passengers and 1,062 crew members aboard the ship, adding that it is in a stable position. It said its ship was leaving King’s Wharf, Bermuda, about 5pm when the vessel had a “temporary malfunction of its steering system” which caused it to sail “slightly off course.”
Cruise ship passenger Rachel Hansen, from Londonderry, New Hampshire, spoke to the AP by phone and said the captain told everyone that the ship would not move until Wednesday morning. She said the ship was about three miles from Bermuda when it ran aground. The company said the ship’s officers, engineers and an independent dive team have confirmed its structural integrity, and that the vessel will also be thoroughly inspected in Bermuda by DNVGL, the ship’s classification society, before returning to Boston.
“We definitely felt it,” she said. “We were in the middle of eating dinner ... There was a shudder for maybe 30 seconds to a minute and then there was a sudden stop.” “The ship is fully operational with the full complement of onboard services available to guests,” the company said, adding it would remain at anchor nearby overnight.
Photos posted on Twitter by people onboard showed passengers, some with drinks in hand, strolling on deck and peering over the rail into the bright blue sea.
Small boats checking for damage could be seen, as well as two tug boats and a Bermuda police boat, and scuba divers in wetsuits preparing to investigate below the waterline.
“Ship shuddered, then stopped really fast,” wrote one Twitter user, Rachel Hansen of Londonderry, New Hampshire. “Lots of people still trying to have a good time.”
An official with Bermuda’s Rescue Coordination Center, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press the ship hit the reef near Bermuda’s North Channel.
The official, who was not authorised to talk to the media, said there were 2,675 passengers and 1,062 crew members aboard the ship, adding that it was in a stable position.
Hansen said she and her family gathered essential belongings and joined other people who went to the top of the ship to see what had happened.Hansen said she and her family gathered essential belongings and joined other people who went to the top of the ship to see what had happened.
“We had crew members running around in a panic, and we felt like we had to panic,” she said, adding that overall, the majority of crew members reacted calmly and quickly.“We had crew members running around in a panic, and we felt like we had to panic,” she said, adding that overall, the majority of crew members reacted calmly and quickly.
As the hours went by, she said passengers settled into their evening routine and the ship still held entertainment shows as planned.As the hours went by, she said passengers settled into their evening routine and the ship still held entertainment shows as planned.
Norwegian Cruise Line said in a brief statement that the ship temporarily lost power and its propulsion was affected. Officials said everyone aboard is safe and that the ship has full power. Norwegian Cruise Line said in a brief statement that the ship temporarily lost power and its propulsion was affected.
“The ship’s propulsion was affected and, at which time, the vessel made contact with the channel bed,” the statement said.“The ship’s propulsion was affected and, at which time, the vessel made contact with the channel bed,” the statement said.
“The ship has full power and on-board services continue as scheduled. The ship’s team is currently assessing the situation and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”
The U.S. Coast Guard declined comment and referred calls to authorities in Bermuda.The U.S. Coast Guard declined comment and referred calls to authorities in Bermuda.
The Norwegian Dawn offers a seven-day, round-trip cruise to Bermuda, where it spends three days in port. It was on its way to Boston when the accident happened.The Norwegian Dawn offers a seven-day, round-trip cruise to Bermuda, where it spends three days in port. It was on its way to Boston when the accident happened.