Luxury Cruise Ship Stranded in Greenland: Rescue Attempt Fails
HELSINKI, Sept 13 (Reuters) – Efforts to free a luxury cruise ship that ran aground in a remote part of Greenland have been unsuccessful, leaving the vessel and its 206 passengers stranded, according to Denmark’s armed forces.
The Ocean Explorer has been stuck in mud and silt since Monday in the Alpefjord national park, located approximately 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland’s capital Nuuk, said the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC).
A fish trawler was deployed to pull the cruise ship free during Wednesday’s high tide, but unfortunately, the attempt proved unsuccessful, the JAC announced in a statement.
Armed forces personnel stationed in Greenland have evaluated the Ocean Explorer and spoken to passengers and crew, determining that everyone onboard was in good condition.
“The crew and passengers are in a difficult situation, but under the circumstances, the atmosphere on the ship is good and everyone on board is doing well,” stated the JAC.
The Danish navy’s Knud Rasmussen patrol vessel is expected to arrive at the Alpefjord site on Friday afternoon to assist in the rescue efforts, according to the JAC.
“If everything goes well, they will help the ship get out of this emergency that they’re in at this moment. But it depends on how everything looks when they arrive on Friday, so we need to see how it goes,” said a JAC spokesperson.
Aurora Expeditions, the Australian cruise operator that owns the Ocean Explorer, reassured that passengers and crew remained safe onboard the grounded vessel.
“There is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel, or the surrounding environment,” stated Aurora in a released statement.
Photographs taken by the Danish military showed the Ocean Explorer upright in calm waters, with the sun shining.
Greenland, a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark, is renowned for its rugged landscapes and vast ice cap, attracting tourists with its natural beauty.
Reporting by Essi Lehto in Helsinki and Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, writing by Terje Solsvik; editing by Christina Fincher and Grant McCool