6/7/2006 11:49:00 AM Cruise ship freed from sandbar
No injuries reported; passengers safe and unruffled
The stricken Norwegian Crown is seen here on the left as tugboats try to manouevre it into deeper water. To the right is another cruise ship, the Grandeur of the Seas, which is berthed at nearby Dockyard. Photo by Leah Furbert
Norwegian Crown passengers shelter from the rain in a Front Street cafe after their ship ran aground. Sarah Collmer (second left) said there was no drama and that it was just a "minor inconvenience". Photo by Nigel Regan
Bermuda Sun staff
Regular cruise ship caller Norwegian Crown ran aground between Dockyard and Spanish Point this morning, but was pulled free by three tugboats this evening.
The ship is expected in Dockyard tonight, skipping Hamilton as a port of call.
The Norwegian Crown ran aground while the ship was navigating shallow water in the Dundonald Channel near Grassy Bay at 8:25am.
Passengers choosing to leave the ship were being ferried to Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, as rain lashed the island. They appeared to be unruffled and taking it all in their stride when they spoke to our reporters this afternoon.
The ship is not taking on water and there are no reports of pollution resulting from the incident.
It’s standard practice for cruise ships to engage local pilots to manoeuvre the huge vessels through Bermuda’s treacherous coral reefs. There is no official word yet on how or why the ship ran aground.
Joe Simas, shipping manager for Meyer Shipping — the local agent for Norwegian Cruise Lines — said divers examined the ship and didn’t find any damage. Once the vessel reaches Dockyard, divers will do another search for signs of damage.
The 34,000 ton vessel, which sailed from Philadelphia and can carry 1,104 passengers and 500 crew, arrived in St. George’s, Bermuda yesterday. This morning it was on its way to Hamilton in heavy rain.
In a statement this morning, a Bermuda Police spokesman said: “Two tug boats (Faithful and Powerful) from the Department of Marine and Ports went to the Norwegian Crown’s assistance but after initial attempts to free the vessel were unsuccessful, it was decided to try again at high tide, around 6:30pm.”
“It is unclear at this time why the ship ran aground. There appears to be no major damage to the Norwegian Crown and at no time was there any concern for the safety of passengers on board.”
A statement issued by the Bermuda Government early this afternoon read: “The ship is being assessed by members of the Maritime Administration Department and is not experiencing any leakages.
“The Marine and Ports Department has dispatched its three tugs to assist the stranded vessel and coordinated efforts are under way by the ferry service to tender passengers ashore to Hamilton.”
Mr. Simas said the Fairmont Hamilton Princess has provided rooms for passengers to use.
He added that the ship has offloaded ballast to make it more buoyant so at high tide it will be able to get off the sand bar.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Mr. Simas added that once the Norwegian Crown is freed, it will head to Dockyard instead of making its scheduled stop in Hamilton.
Islanders looking to get a glimpse of the stranded ship clogged roads leading up to the nearest vantage points, prompting Government to urge the public — whether in cars and boats — to stay clear of the area.
Passengers described today’s events as a “mild inconvenience.” Sarah Collmer from Portland, Oregon, who is travelling with her husband and friends, said: “There was no drama. We just kind of slid into a sand bank. There was no panic and the staff kept us well informed.”
Shannon Rafine, 33, from Pennsylvania was in bed at around 7am, dozing, when the ship stopped.
She said: “I felt a little bump and then I heard the sound of the gears grinding for a long time. It was a while before they told us about the sandbar.
“They told us tug boats were trying to get us out. We weren’t too concerned, we were just curious about what was happening. A lot of people ran outside to have a look.”
Ms Rafine, who is travelling with friends and family, said that when third tug boat failed to dislodge the ship, staff announced they’d have to wait for high tide and that there was going to be a tender for passengers who wanted to be ferried into Hamilton.
She said: “That’s when people began to get a bit annoyed. A lot of us had excursions planned. There was a lot of milling around and people asking questions at the front desk.”
Not all the passengers left the ship. “It took so long to board the tender and then it started to rain so a lot of people stayed on the ship, others went on a round trip on the tender, coming into Hamilton and then going straight back to the ship.”
Ms Rafine said she’s taking what happened on the chin. “I’m a pretty laid back person, but I bet there’s a lot of passengers asking for free mimosas and bloody marys. It’s just life.”
The ship, which entered service in 1988, has being sold by Norwegian Cruise Lines to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines effective August 2006. NCL is expected to operate the vessel through the 2007 season.
Government has announced that regular ferry service will not be disrupted.
Last update: 5:57pm
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, July 17, 2006
Comment by:
ANDREW FERGUSON
HAVING JUST COMPLETED A SAIL TO BERMUDA FROM NY 7-9-06/7-16-06, ABOARD THE CROWN,
I NEED TO REPORT DISAPPOINTMENT AND CONCERN ABOUT NCL, FOR MOST OF THE VOYAGE THE SHIP RAN ON ONE ENGINE,
LISTING, AND OFTEN SHAKING BADLY,
AT TIMES SOOT AND BURNING EMBERS POURED FROM THE STACKS TO THE REAR DECK, NCL CARES MORE ABOUT MONEY
THAN THEIR PASSENGERS. I LOVED BERMUDA
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
Silkrain
Ms, Dubiac, you will have little to worry about once the Ship gets into the Island. Unfortunately foul weather made it a little difficult this tme in terms of navigation, but ships visiting our ports have done so safely, hundreds of times. :-)
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
Christine Dubiac
Mr. Nadelson .. thank you for the kind words! .. our wedding is scheduled for noon next Wednesday..
Anxiously awaiting any word on the ship today! There are pictures online that show what appears to be a hole in the bulbous bow...
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
Aj
According to bermudaSucks.com it was all thanks to a distracting aerobics class and a problem with which pink house to turn left at...
Good to hear the ship is no longer aground. The up to date coverage was appreciated.
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
STUART R. NADELSON
To Christine: I had made a typo in my last reply to you. I meant to say that almost every vacation to Bermuda by ship, involved a hurricane during our voyage, and we therefore decided fly to and from Bermuda without ever having any bad weather. It's also a delight to arrive in an hour & one-half, and spend that much more time in Bermuda. Congratulations.
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
Joshua Richardson
So wonderful to be in touch with Bermuda.The BermudaSun is certainly an excellent way to keep abreast of what's happening when residents are abroad.
Best Regards.
Josh Richardson.
Manhattan, N.Y.
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
Helen A. ( Semos) Rinehart
I am aBermudain living in Spokane Wa.
Good artical Bermuda Sun.
I always look forward to reading
your paper. Keep up the good work reporters. Spokane, Washington.
Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Comment by:
SYLVIA
AND THE PLAN IS TO BRING LARGER SHIPS
MAY THIS COULD BE A SIGN...
Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Comment by:
Stuart R. Nadelson
To Christine Dubiac" I was married last month in Bermuda. My wife and I always fly to Bermuda, due to the fact that when we cruised from New York, we almost also ran into a hurricane. Flying gives us a great deal more control. Best of luck to you in your upcoming wedding in paradise.
Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Comment by:
John F. Lumb
Good updates! I have been to Bermuda 8 times, 7 by ship. One of which, of course, was the Norwegian Crown 2 years ago, from NYC. While a cruise ship fan, I insist that cruise ships use the utmost care when navigating, not only to prevent accidents but environmental disasters as well. The person above is correct...navigating in Bermuda is difficult. Luckily no one was hurt, hopefully little damage to the ship, but most importantly, no environmental damage to Bermuda (unless I hear otherwise!)
