Maritime incident Archives

Stranded cruise ship the Ocean Explorer freed three days after running aground in Greenland

The ship, which has passengers from around the world on board, was pulled free from mud and silt by a fishing vessel.

Ocean Explorer ran aground on Monday. Pic: AP

A luxury cruise ship has been freed after it ran aground in northwestern Greenland.

The Ocean Explorer – which has 206 passengers on board – got stuck in mud and silt on Monday in Alpefjord, a national park 870 miles (1,400km) northeast of Greenland’s capital Nuuk, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said.

After three failed attempts to free the ship, it was “successfully” pulled free by a fishing vessel, Tarajoq, at high tide.

SunStone Ships, the vessel’s owner, said the ship will be taken to a port to assess any damage, while the passengers will be flown home.

“There have not been any injuries to any person onboard, no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull,” SunStone said in a statement.

Before the rescue, the JAC had sent its larger inspection vessel, Knud Rasmussen, to the site, which was expected to arrive on Friday evening.

‘Everyone’s in good spirits’

The Ocean Explorer, which is operated by Australia-based Aurora Expeditions, left the Norwegian port of Bronnoysund on 6 September, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic.com.

The ship has 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds and 99 beds for crew.

There are also several restaurants, an infinity pool and a two-level lounge with a piano bar and panoramic windows at the bow of the ship, according to Ulstein, the company that built it.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/concerns-grow-for-stranded-cruise-ship-in-greenland-as-third-attempt-to-free-vessel-fails-12960936

Cruise ship carrying 206 people runs aground in Greenland – and rescue will not arrive until Friday

The Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said the closest Danish navy ship was around 1,200 nautical miles (more than 2,000km or 1,380 miles) away, adding it was heading to the site and would not reach the grounded ship until Friday at the earliest.

A cruise ship with 206 passengers and crew on board has run aground in northwestern Greenland – and rescuers will not arrive until Friday at the earliest, authorities said.<br />
The Ocean Explorer ran aground on Monday in Alpefjord in a national park 870 miles (1,400km) northeast of Greenland’s capital Nuuk, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said.

“A cruise ship in trouble in the national park is obviously a worry. The nearest help is far away, our units are far away, and the weather can be very unfavourable,” JAC head of operations Commander Brian Jensen said in the statement.

He said the closest Danish navy ship was around 1,200 nautical miles (more than 1,380 miles or 2,000km) away – adding it was heading to the site and would not reach the grounded ship until Friday at the earliest.

“However, in this specific situation, we do not see any immediate danger to human life or the environment, which is reassuring,” he added.

Authorities have been in contact with another cruise ship in the area and it has been asked to remain nearby to assist in case the situation changes.

The grounded cruise ship might also get free on its own when the tide is high, Greenland television KNR reported.

But later on Tuesday, the JAC said on its Facebook page the ship was still stuck despite the tide.

“Regardless, the most important thing for us is that everyone gets to safety,” Mr Jensen said.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/cruise-ship-carrying-206-people-runs-aground-in-greenland-and-rescue-will-not-arrive-until-friday-12960205

Singapore-flagged tanker collides briefly with oil vessel in Suez Canal

The Singapore-flagged BW Lesmes tanker. (Photo: BW Group)

Two tankers, the Singapore-flagged BW Lesmes and Cayman Islands-flagged Burri, briefly collided in Egypt’s Suez Canal, ship tracking company Marine Traffic said on early Wednesday (Aug 23), citing eyewitnesses.

The shipping tracker showed the BW Lesmes, which carries LNG, stopped and pointing north, and Burri, an oil products tanker, moored and pointing south about 19km from the southern end of the canal at 2.55am (7.55am, Singapore time).

LNG tanker BW Lesmes will be towed away to the Suez anchorage area, shipping sources told Reuters.

A time-lapse shared by Marine Traffic showed Burri turning sideways and colliding with an already sideways BW Lesmes at 4.40am (Singapore time) before backing up and pointing straight.

The last port call for both ships had been Port Said to the north.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Suez Canal Authority.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) told CNA it was informed of the incident at about 5.30am Singapore time on Wednesday.

The BW Lesmes was grounded but has since been refloated with assistance from local authorities, a spokesperson said. There are no injuries to the crew, and no pollution reported.

Approximately 12 per cent of the world’s trade moves through the Suez Canal. During strong winds in 2021, a huge container ship, the Ever Given, became jammed across it, halting traffic in both directions for six days and disrupting global trade.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/singapore-flagged-tanker-collides-suez-canal-3717536