stranded cruise ship 2023

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

A Luxury Cruise Ship, Stuck Off Greenland’s Coast for 3 Days, Is Pulled Free

The Ocean Explorer had been traveling toward Northeast Greenland National Park when it ran aground on Monday, officials said. The ship was pulled free on Thursday.

By Eduardo Medina

A luxury cruise ship that had been stuck for three days after running aground off the coast of Greenland was pulled free on Thursday morning, the authorities said.

The ship, the Ocean Explorer, had been carrying 206 passengers and crew members and was headed toward Alpefjord, in a remote corner of Greenland. The ship’s destination was the Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s northernmost national park, which is home to icebergs, glaciers and high mountains.

The Joint Arctic Command, which is part of Denmark’s defense forces, and SunStone Maritime Group , the coordinators of the rescue operation, said in statements on Thursday that the ship had been pulled free by a vessel named Tarajoq.

There were no reported injuries on board the ship, and there was no threat to the environment. The ship’s operator, Aurora Expeditions, a cruise company based in Australia, said in a statement on Thursday that “all onboard are safe” and that it appreciated “the patience and understanding of our passengers during this process.”

“We are waiting on the relevant authorities for advice regarding our next steps,” the company said.

The rescue came after an unsuccessful attempt on Wednesday, in which a fishing research vessel owned by the government of Greenland tried and failed to pull free the Ocean Explorer at high tide. Bad weather also slowed the government’s rescue operations, officials said.

Before the ship was freed, the Joint Arctic Command had said that “the crew and passengers are in a difficult situation, but after the circumstances, the atmosphere on the ship is good and everyone on board is fine.”

It was unclear what caused the ship to run aground near Greenland, which is part of Denmark but has autonomy over most domestic affairs. Officials said there were no indications that the ship had suffered serious damage to its foundation.

Cruises around Greenland have become increasingly popular with tourists seeking adventure and comfort aboard ships packed with amenities.The Ocean Explorer, built in 2021, was made to “travel to the world’s most remote destinations,” according to Aurora Expeditions’ website .

Prices for a 17-day expedition that tours Greenland start at more than $15,000 per person. The ship has a gym, a Jacuzzi and spacious suites that are 640 square feet, offering guests two large master bathrooms, one master bedroom and expansive views of the sea .

Photos of the stuck Ocean Explorer on Wednesday showed a blue-and-white ship floating in waters with frosted mountain peaks in the distance.

Extreme cold did not appear to be a major issue for stranded passengers on Wednesday: The temperature in the area was around 2.2 degrees Celsius, or about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, that night.

Jenny Gross contributed reporting.

Eduardo Medina is a reporter covering breaking news. More about Eduardo Medina

Come Sail Away

Love them or hate them, cruises can provide a unique perspective on travel..

Icon Class Ships: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has been a hit among cruise goers. The cruise line is adding to its fleet of megaships ,  but they have drawn criticism from environmental groups.

 Cruise Ship Surprises: Here are five unexpected features on ships , some of which you hopefully won’t discover on your own.

 Icon of the Seas: Our reporter joined thousands of passengers on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas . The most surprising thing she found? Some actual peace and quiet .

Th ree-Year Cruise, Unraveled:  The Life at Sea cruise was supposed to be the ultimate bucket-list experience : 382 port calls over 1,095 days. Here’s why  those who signed up are seeking fraud charges  instead.

TikTok’s Favorite New ‘Reality Show’:  People on social media have turned the unwitting passengers of a nine-month world cruise  into  “cast members”  overnight.

Dipping Their Toes: Younger generations of travelers are venturing onto ships for the first time . Many are saving money.

Luxury cruise ship pulled free days after getting stuck off Greenland's coast, authorities say

Previous attempts to free the stranded ship were unsuccessful.

LONDON -- A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people has been pulled free days after it got stuck off the coast of Greenland, authorities said.

The Joint Arctic Command, which is part of Denmark’s defense forces, announced in a social media post on Thursday that the ship, named the Ocean Explorer, was finally pulled free at high tide in Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

MORE: Rescue efforts underway for luxury cruise ship that ran aground in Greenland

The 343-foot long and 60-foot wide vessel, which is operated by Australia-based cruise company Aurora Expeditions, was traveling toward a remote corner of Greenland on Monday when it ran aground above the Arctic Circle near Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park, the northernmost national park in the world.

The Greenland Institute of Nature's research ship Tarajoq, which unsuccessfully tried to free the cruise ship Wednesday, managed to pull the Ocean Explorer free, the Joint Arctic Command said.

"We’re really happy that it went so well and that the passengers and crew of the ship can now see an end to the difficult situation they’ve been in for the last few days," Commander Captain Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command, said in a statement.

The cruise ship is now sailing to a port maintained by Maritime Accident Investigation Board for further inspection, the Joint Arctic Command said.

The SunStone Maritime Group, which chartered Aurora Expeditions for the trip, said in a statement that no one was injured during the incident. There was "no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull," the statement said.

"The vessel and its passengers will now be positioned to a port where the vessel’s bottom damages can be assessed, and the passengers will be taken to a port from which they can be flown back home," the company said.

Previous attempts to free the stranded ship on Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful.

It was unclear why the vessel ran aground, and the incident will remain under investigation, officials said.

ABC News' Jon Haworth, Will Gretsky and Emma Ogao contributed to this report.

Popular Reads

How to watch the Harris-Trump ABC News debate

• Sep 10, 8:55 PM

Suspect at large in freeway shooting

• Sep 8, 11:18 PM

Johnny Gaudreau's widow announces pregnancy

• Sep 9, 3:52 PM

Neighbor arrested in death of missing nurse

• Sep 7, 6:59 PM

4 dead in shooting at Georgia high school

• Sep 4, 10:47 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

Luxury cruise ship stranded in Greenland with Covid-positive passengers is finally pulled free

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The luxury cruise ship MV Ocean Explorer was successfully pulled free on Thursday, three days after running aground in Greenland with 206 people on board, authorities and the ship’s owner said.

The ship was freed by a fisheries research vessel at high tide, said the cruise ship’s owner, Copenhagen-based SunStone Ships, and the Joint Arctic Command, which coordinated the operation.

“There have not been any injuries to anybody onboard, no pollution of the environment and no breach of the hull,” SunStone Ships said in a statement. The research vessel which pulled the cruise ship belongs to the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, a government agency, it said.

It said the cruise ship and its passengers will now travel to a port where the damage to the vessel’s bottom can be assessed, and the passengers will be taken to a location from where they can be flown home. There was no immediate comment from the tour company that organized the trip, Australia-based Aurora Expeditions.

The cruise ship ran aground Monday above the Arctic Circle  in Alpefjord  in Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s northernmost national park. The park is nearly the size of France and Spain combined, and approximately 80% is covered by  an ice sheet . Alpefjord is about 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the closest settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, which is nearly 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the country’s capital, Nuuk.

The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship has passengers from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has an inverted bow, shaped like the one on a submarine, 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds and 99 beds for crew, and several restaurants.

Earlier Thursday, Aurora Expeditions said three passengers had Covid-19.

“These passengers are currently in isolation. They are looked after by our onboard doctor, medical team and crew, and they are doing well,” it said in a statement. Others on the MV Ocean Explorer are “safe and healthy,” it said.

Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a retiree from Australia who is on the ship, Steven Fraser, as saying: “Everyone’s in good spirits. It’s a little bit frustrating, but we are in a beautiful part of the world.”

Fraser told the newspaper that he had come down with Covid-19 on the ship.

Cmdr. Brian Jensen of the Joint Arctic Command told Greenland broadcaster KNR that the ship is likely to go to Iceland, the closest place with large ports.

“Now it is exciting to find out what the condition of the ship is,“ Jensen was quoted as saying by KNR. “They are in the process of investigating whether the ship is intact and seaworthy and ready to sail on.”

The ship’s owner said several other vessels had rushed to the scene “and offered their assistance, which however, was not needed.” It said it had also “arranged additional tug assistance in case it was needed, however, this has now been canceled.”

Dozens of cruise ships sail along Greenland’s coast every year so passengers can admire the picturesque mountainous landscape, waterways packed with icebergs of different sizes and glaciers jutting out into the sea.

Danish broadcaster DR said there were 400 cruises in Greenland in 2022 and 600 cruises in 2023.

The Danish Maritime Authority asked police in Greenland to investigate why the ship ran aground and whether any laws had been violated, a police statement said, adding that no one has been charged or arrested. An officer has been on board the ship to carry out “initial investigative steps, which, among other things, involve questioning the crew and other relevant persons on board,” it said.

The cruise liner began its current trip on Sept. 2 in Kirkenes in Arctic Norway and was due to return to Bergen, Norway, on Sept. 22, according to SunStone Ships.

The primary mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to ensure Danish sovereignty by monitoring the area around the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, including the Arctic Ocean in the north. Greenland is a semi-independent territory that is part of the Danish realm, as are the Faeroe Islands.

The Associated Press

Cruise ship freed after being stranded in Greenland for days

More than 200 people were stranded on the ship until a fishing research vessel pulled it free

A luxury cruise ship that had been stranded in remote Greenland since Monday was freed Thursday with an assist from a fishing research vessel, Danish authorities said.

The Joint Arctic Command, part of Danish defense forces, said in a statement that the expedition cruise ship was pulled free by the Tarajoq, which is operated by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. The Ocean Explorer, carrying 206 passengers and crew on a voyage to observe rugged glacial terrain, ran aground in an area advertised as the largest and northernmost national park in the world.

Authorities were notified Monday afternoon local time that the ship ran around in the Alpefjord in Northeast Greenland National Park, known for picturesque glaciers, icebergs and muskoxen that roam the coast. Authorities said there have been no injuries aboard the Ocean Explorer and the incident does not pose a threat to the environment.

However, three passengers have covid-19, according to Aurora Expeditions, an Australian-based cruise line that owns and operates the Bahamas-flagged ship. The cruise line said in a statement the passengers have been in isolation and were receiving treatment from its medical teams and crew members.

“All other passengers, Expedition team and crew remain safe and healthy,” Ocean Explorer officials said in a Wednesday statement.

In the days before the ship was freed, Danish authorities scrambled to find solutions, including contacting nearby ships and dispatching local units. In an update Arctic Command posted to Facebook on Wednesday, it said the Tarajoq had arrived but failed in an early attempt to pull the cruise ship free at high tide. The Arctic Command had also called for a patrol vessel to aid the recovery of the cruise ship, but it was not on schedule to arrive until Friday.

“There is a long way for immediate help, our units are far from that and the weather can be very unfavorable,” Captain Brian Jensen of the Arctic Command said in the statement, which was translated into English on Facebook. “Of course, we are following the situation closely and take this incident very seriously,” Jensen added.

The Ocean Explorer is designed for travel to remote destinations across the world, according to the company’s website . The company told AP in a statement its passengers and crew were not in danger, and ensuring a safe recovery was its “foremost commitment.”

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

Fishing trawler frees stranded luxury cruise ship in Greenland

A luxury cruise ship that was stuck in a remote part of Greenland for three days after running aground with 206 people on board has been pulled free by a fishing trawler.

The Ocean Explorer cruise vessel was refloated on Thursday, the Danish navy and ship owner said, after having been stuck since Monday in mud and silt in the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland’s capital Nuuk.

“The Ocean Explorer was pulled free,” the Royal Danish Navy’s Joint Arctic Command in Greenland said.

The Joint Arctic Command confirmed that the ship had been pulled free by the Tarajoq, a trawler and research vessel that made a failed attempt to do so on Wednesday.

The Greenlandic fisheries research vessel was able to help tug the ship free, said the cruise ship’s owner, SunStone Maritime Group.

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

“We have just successfully become free now … We are absolutely elated,” Gina Hill, an Australian passenger on board the ship, told Reuters on Thursday.

The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship leaned to the side during the operation and passengers were not allowed to go outside, Hill said.

According to Australian media reports, three people on board have tested positive for COVID-19.

Most of the tourists were from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States.

There are few hydrological surveys of the area where the cruise ship ran aground, making it difficult to assess the sea depths.

Danish police have opened a preliminary investigation into the grounding to determine if there was any wrongdoing.

The Ocean Explorer will be taken to a port to assess any damage, while the passengers will be flown home, said SunStone.

“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.

Greenland, a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean with a population of just 57,000, attracts tourists with its rugged landscape and a vast ice cap that covers much of the island.

Over 200 people are stuck in a remote part of Greenland after their luxury cruise ship ran aground. Their rescuers in the Arctic say the 'nearest help is far away.'

• Aurora Expeditions' Ocean Explorer cruise ship is stuck in Greenland after running aground.
• The luxury cruise was carrying 206 passengers when it was grounded.
• Denmark's Joint Arctic Command said the earliest its closest ship can arrive is Friday.

A luxury cruise carrying 206 passengers is now stuck in a remote part of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, after it ran aground.

"On Monday afternoon West Greenlandic time, the Arctic Command received a message that the cruise ship Ocean Explorer was grounded in the Alpefjord in Northeast Greenland, and that the ship is not immediately able to be freed by its own help," Denmark's Joint Arctic Command said in a statement on Tuesday.

Brian Jensen, the head of operations for the Joint Arctic Command, said in the statement that the situation "is of course worrisome."

"The nearest help is far away, our units are far away, and the weather can be very unfavorable," Jensen said. "However, in this specific situation, we do not see any immediate danger to human life or the environment, which is reassuring."

"Of course, we are following the situation closely and take this incident very seriously," he continued.

According to the Joint Arctic Command's statement on Tuesday morning, their closest ship, the inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen, is approximately 1,200 nautical miles away from the Ocean Explorer.

The Joint Arctic Command said the earliest the Knud Rasmussen might reach the Ocean Explorer is Friday morning local time.

Related stories

Satellite view of the Ocean Explorer – the cruise ship aground in the Alpefjord (East Greenland) with 206 people on board – as seen by @CopernicusEU Sentinel-2 yesterday. Not a very friendly place to be stuck at, but the good news is that the fjord is largely free of icebergs. pic.twitter.com/HV7KwiPvzS — Bert Wouters (@bert_polar) September 12, 2023

The Joint Arctic Command said it has asked a nearby cruise ship to remain in the area to provide assistance in case the situation changes.

Jensen also outlined a few scenarios in which the Ocean Explorer could be dislodged.

"They can either try to get out on their own help when the tide becomes high, they can get help from a nearby cruise ship, they can get assistance from Knud Rasmussen, or they can get help of one of our collaborators," Jensen said.

But the Joint Arctic Command also noted in a subsequent statement that the Ocean Explorer was still stuck after a tide came in.

A representative for Aurora Expeditions, the cruise ship's operator, told Insider that everyone on board the vessel was safe and well.

"We are actively engaged in efforts to free the MV Ocean Explorer, from its grounding," the representative said. "Our foremost commitment is to ensure the vessel's recovery without compromising safety."

Representatives for the Joint Arctic Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Watch: What's behind Russia's Arctic fleet and Putin's plans for the North Pole

• Main content

Take Our Quiz »

Find the best country for you: », trawler's attempt fails to free grounded cruise ship in greenland.

Trawler's Attempt Fails to Free Grounded Cruise Ship in Greenland

View of the Ocean Explorer, a luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people that ran aground, in Alpefjord, Greenland, September 12, 2023. Danish Air Force/Arctic Command/Handout via REUTERS

By Essi Lehto and Louise Rasmussen

HELSINKI (Reuters) -A fish trawler's attempt to free a luxury cruise ship that ran aground two days ago in a remote part of Greenland has failed, leaving the vessel and the 206 people on board still stranded, Denmark's armed forces said on Wednesday.

The Ocean Explorer has since Monday been stuck in mud and silt in the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk, the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said.

The large trawler sought to pull the cruise ship free during Wednesday's high tide, but the attempt ultimately failed, the JAC said in a statement.

Armed forces personnel stationed in Greenland have inspected the Ocean Explorer and spoken to those on board, concluding that they were 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," the JAC said.

The Danish navy's Knud Rasmussen patrol vessel was expected to arrive at the Alpefjord site on Friday afternoon, the JAC said.

"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," a JAC spokesperson said.

The passengers and crew remained safe on board, Australian cruise operator Aurora Expeditions said earlier.

"There is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel or the surrounding environment," Sydney-based Aurora said in a statement.

Photos taken by the Danish military showed the Ocean Explorer sitting upright in calm waters with the sun shining.

Greenland, a semi-sovereign territory of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean with a population of just 57,000, attracts tourists with its rugged landscape and a vast ice cap that covers much of the island.

(Reporting by Essi Lehto in Helsinki and Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, writing by Terje Solsvik; editing by Christina Fincher and Grant McCool)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters .

Photos You Should See - July 2024

Join the Conversation

Tags: Denmark , Europe , Finland

America 2024

Best Countries

U.S. News Decision Points

Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.S. News and World Report.

Sign in to manage your newsletters »

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

The 10 worst presidents.

U.S. News Staff Feb. 23, 2024

The Best Cartoons on Donald Trump

Sept. 10, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.

Joe Biden Behind The Scenes

Aug. 20, 2024

Presidential Debate: 6 Takeaways

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 11, 2024

Harris Rattles Trump in Debate Slugfest

Olivier Knox Sept. 11, 2024

A Summer for the History Books

Laura Mannweiler Sept. 10, 2024

3 Debate Questions That Need to be Asked

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Sept. 10, 2024

Uncertainty, Hostility in Store at U.N.

Pamela S. Falk Sept. 10, 2024

Debate Night: What to Know

Debate Goals for Harris, Trump

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 9, 2024

latest in US News

South Carolina Rep. hospitalized with 'stroke-like symptoms'...

Key quotes from Trump-Harris first presidential debate

Unruly anti-Israel protesters clash with cops outside...

Mega Millions player wins $800M jackpot

Millions of marine fossils recovered under a California high...

Hurricane Francine intensified into a Category 1 as millions...

Trump debate performance panned as well-prepped Harris gets help...

Agressive golden eagle attacks baby, three others in Norway...

Breaking news, terrifying video shows passengers hanging on for dear life after massive wave stranded cruise ship.

Terrifying footage has emerged of panicked passengers bracing aboard a Norwegian cruise ship that lost power when it was hit by a rogue wave in the North Sea.

The passengers aboard the stranded MS Maud were captured on video wearing life vests and holding onto tables after the vessel was hit by 70-foot waves and gale-force winds caused by Storm Pia last week.

“Lay on the floor!” one panic-stricken person is heard shouting during the stomach-churning incident, according to footage shared by SWNS.

The ship, which departed from Tilbury Docks in the UK on Dec. 9 carrying 266 passengers and 131 crew, lost its power and navigational equipment when it ran into the storm on Dec. 21.

Among the passengers were Brian Launder, 75, and his wife, Carole, who was celebrating her 70th birthday with their first-ever cruise, according to the outlet.

Launder, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, said he saw waves reaching their cabin windows on the fifth deck and water gushing through the corridors.

“At the one stage they were getting the lifeboats ready,” he told SWNS on Saturday, adding that they had hoped to be back home for Christmas before the maritime mishap.

“The cruise had to be cut short as they had to cut through the storm. We spent lots of hours not moving with no power. We were talking to the officers and they estimated the waves were 15 to 20 meters,” he said.

“We were worried when the water came through the door. My wife was so calm, she was helping this lady. She got her sorted out,” Launder continued.

He said one person was hurt on the ship, owned by Hurtigruten Expeditions.

“She had a baby in her arms but she went flying,” he said, adding that the “captain had to move the bridge to the passenger lounge due to three windows blown out by a wave.”

On Sunday, he said, a rescue ship was alongside the Maud to provide navigation aid after the ship was diverted to Bremerhaven, Germany.

The couple planned to travel back to Hamburg for an early morning flight to Frankfurt and then finally back to the UK, where they expected to arrive in London on Christmas Eve.

Even in moments of sheer fear, our fellow passengers found levity from the destruction of the Gingerbread Town that collapsed, fragmented & slid around us in Muster Station A Deck 5 18.19 21.12.23 #Hurtigruten #MSMaud whilst #StormPia raged around us. https://t.co/vBjwTDa3v1 pic.twitter.com/iqRkGdZGTG — Oscar Dog (@OscarWoofs) December 23, 2023

“Apart from the drama, we’ve actually quite enjoyed it,” the grandfather of four quipped. “We’ve never been on a cruise ship before. I’d definitely go on one again.”

Meanwhile, another video captured some passengers who enjoyed some humor during the scary incident.

“Even in moments of sheer fear, our fellow passengers found levity from the destruction of the Gingerbread Town that collapsed, fragmented & slid around us in Muster Station A Deck 5 18.19 21.12.23 #Hurtigruten #MSMaud whilst #StormPia raged around us,” X user Oscar Dog wrote.

He shared a video of a woman displaying a smiling elf puppet as she sat on the floor on the debris-strewn deck, where she was surrounded by other passengers wearing orange survival gear.

Advertisement

Passengers to be compensated after cruise ship denied entry to Australian, NZ ports due to 'marine growth' on hull

Topic: Travel Health and Safety

The Viking Orion cruise liner docked in the Port of Melbourne in 2020. ( ABC News: Rachel Clayton )

Hundreds of passengers on a cruise ship arriving at the Port of Melbourne on Monday evening are expected to set foot on dry land for the first time in more than a week after a build-up of marine creatures and plants was cleaned off its hull.

Key points:

• The Viking Orion was due to dock in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hobart and Adelaide after departing Wellington
• It was denied permission due to a build-up of "biofoul" on its hull, with passengers stuck on board
• The vessel pulled into the Port of Melbourne on Monday evening after being cleaned by divers off the SA coast

The Viking Orion, a 227-metre cruise ship which can carry up to 930 passengers, was cleaned by divers on Sunday about 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) off the coast of the South Australian town of Victor Harbor.

The luxury vessel, which is only four years old, hadn't docked since casting off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.com .

It was reportedly denied permission to dock in Christchurch, Dunedin and Hobart before setting course for Adelaide.

Before it could arrive there, Australia's National Maritime Coordination Centre established that the ship had small amounts of biofoul — marine microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals — on its hull.

Authorities then ordered the Viking Orion's agent to have its hull cleaned before entering Australian waters.

"The vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel," the federal fisheries department said in a statement over the weekend.

The Viking Orion is a 227-metre cruise ship which can carry up to 930 passengers. ( AFP: William West )

"Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line/agent to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters.

"The management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving international vessels."

Passengers on board the ship have been airing their complaints on social media over the course of the voyage, with one writing on Twitter: "After 2 years of waiting, Viking disappoints. Great food but poor ship hygiene. Buyer beware."

"I have cried repeatedly for both the significant financial hit after saving for 2 years and the loss of memories and experiences with my dad," wrote another.

The ship's master, Marko Snajdar, wrote a letter to passengers on Friday apologising for the situation.

"We acknowledge that the current cruise falls short of your expectations," he wrote.

"Viking is interested in keeping you as lifetime travellers, and we hope to see you under less exceptional circumstances on one of our ships in the future."

A Viking representative said the company was "working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage".

Cruise ship passengers stranded at sea for days after 'biofoul' discovered

It has been required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul - a common accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae or small animals.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter

Monday 2 January 2023 11:43, UK

Cruise ship passengers have been stranded at sea for nearly a week after "biofoul" growth was discovered on the hull - with Australian officials refusing permission for it to dock.

Hundreds of holidaymakers are reported to be on board the ship, which officials say is approximately 12 nautical miles offshore from the Port of Adelaide and outside Australian waters.

It has been required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul - a common accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae or small animals - and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel into Australia , the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry told Sky News.

The Viking Orion cruise ship has not docked since it left port in Wellington on Monday 26 December and has been at sea for nearly a week, according to ship tracking website Vessel Finder.

The DAFF said it had been notified of small amounts of biofoul on the vessel on 28 December and it had engaged the vessel and the Australian marine biosecurity unit to comply with standard biofoul management procedures.

Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters, it said.

Management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving vessels, Australian officials added.

More on Cruise Ships

'Cruisezilla' cruise ships twice the size they were in 2000, and should start paying more taxes, campaigners warn

Crew member missing at sea during round-the-world cruise

'I believe he is alive': Cruise passenger who went overboard a week ago is a master diver, father says

Related Topics:

• cruise ships

The ship is expected to dock in Melbourne today, the department said, though the arrival time is a matter for the vessel agent it noted.

Tweets from people who say they are on board the Viking Orion indicate the ship may not dock in Melbourne.

"And news this morning, the captain has canceled (sic) our next port in Melbourne. People are livid ... Another day sitting at sea where 2 boats are cleaning the ship hull," Kenn Heydrick said on 1 January.

Another tweeter who said they are on board, Dr Megan Remmel, said on the morning of 1 January that passengers are "no longer getting to disembark in Melbourne. That means we've missed 4 ports and will be stuck on this ship for almost 9 full days."

Viking said that the ship is due to dock on 2 January.

"The Viking Orion is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne, Australia on 2 January (local time), following the cleaning of a limited amount of standard marine growth from the ship's hull-a routine cleaning procedure for nautical vessels.

"While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected to resume the current itinerary," a spokesperson said.

"Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage."

Related Topics