Washington/Juneau (eCanadaNow) – A cruise ship ran has aground off the coast of Alaska, forcing the evacuation of 281 passengers and crew members, a spokesman for the coastguard told the television news network CNN on Monday.
Passengers and crew were presently being brought to safety in lifeboats, the spokesman Jeff Carter added.
The cruise ship Empress of the North, operated by Majestic America Line of Seattle, had hit a reef off the coast and sprung a leak prompting the order to evacuate. The Empress is presently 90 kilometres south of Juneau.
Rescue operations were being hampered by strong winds, one-metre high waves and ice-cold water, said Carter.
“The conditions are not ideal, but it is practicable.”
The coastguard is to send more boats to the scene of the accident to help rescue efforts.
2 comments for Cruise Ship Runs Aground Near Alaska »
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scary stuff
Comment by mal — May 14, 2007 @ 8:19 am
his is the SECOND time in under 2 years that this ship has run aground and had to be abandoned: http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/update-this-is-empress-of-the-norths-second-grounding
Comment by Captain John Konrad — May 14, 2007 @ 9:22 am