One particular person handed away, and 4 folks had been injured when a rogue wave hit an expedition cruise ship within the Drake Passage, simply south of Cape Horn. The incident occurred on Tuesday because the Viking Polaris was making her method to Ushuaia, a well known homeport for cruises crusing to Antarctica.
The Drake Passage and the waters round Cape Horn are effectively often known as a harmful a part of the ocean, the place waves of 30 ft or extra recurrently happen. Viking Polaris was launched only a few weeks in the past and is crusing her inaugural season in Antarctica.
Viking Polaris Hit by Rogue Wave
Sailing within the Southern Ocean is just not with out dangers, as one particular person handed away and 4 folks had been injured onboard the Viking Polaris this week. The brand-new expedition cruise ship set sail from Ushuaia in Southern Argentina on November 25 for a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula.
On her return to her homeport, the ship was hit by a rogue wave on Tuesday, November 29. At the time, the vessel was south of Cape Horn, within the Drake Passage. While there was a storm within the space on the time, in line with one visitor onboard, the situations had been acceptable on the time.
A press release from Viking stated the next: “There was a rogue wave incident involving the Viking Polaris on November 29 at 22:40 local time while the ship was sailing towards Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship sustained limited damage during the incident and arrived in port in Ushuaia without further incident the afternoon of November 30.”
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In footage taken in port, a number of home windows may be seen damaged on one of many decrease decks, possible the placement the place the wave hit. The assertion continued, stating that the 4 remaining passengers had sustained non-life-threatening accidents and had been being handled onboard by medical professionals:
“It is with great sadness that we confirm a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies. We will continue to offer our full support to the family in the hours and days ahead. Four other guests sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and were treated by the ship’s onboard doctor and medical staff. We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities.”
The cruise line additional added that the next cruise, a 10-day Antarctic Explorer cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, has been canceled. Guests booked on that voyage have been notified by Viking or will likely be knowledgeable by their journey advisors.
Expedition Market Booming, But Risks Remain
While rogue waves are extraordinarily uncommon, storms passing by way of the Drake Passage aren’t. The space is effectively often known as one of the crucial harmful areas on this planet for ships. Although expedition cruises have turn into extra widespread currently, the dangers of crusing to the world have remained.
Just two weeks in the past, two visitors handed away whereas taking a zodiac cruise round Elephant Island in Antarctica. The expedition cruise ship World Explorer was beneath constitution from Quark Expeditions, one of the crucial skilled operators within the space, which exhibits that whereas stunning, a cruise to Antarctica remains to be an expedition, and there are inherent dangers related to going right here.
The subsequent voyage for Viking Polaris will sail on December 17, a 10-day journey to the Antarctic. The 376-passenger, 30,150 gross-tons expedition cruise ship was launched in September this yr. The cruise ship is the sister ship to Viking Octanctis, which launched final yr and spent the summer season crusing within the Great Lakes space.