Cruise ship that touts its “navigation capabilities” runs aground in Greenland with more than 200 onboard

The Ocean Explorer expedition has been touted as a cruise ship “purpose-built for expedition journey to the world’s most distant locations,” full with “cutting-edge expertise” and its “navigation capabilities.” 

However on Tuesday, it ran aground in a nationwide park in northeast Greenland. 

The Joint Arctic Command stated the ship grounded in Alpefjord, a part of the Northeast Greenland Nationwide Park, the world’s largest nationwide park, on Tuesday. In response to Greenland journey web site Visit Greenland, the distant space is an space thought of an “Arctic Desert” as a result of annual rainfall is so low. 

There was no harm to the vessel that might trigger a danger to the atmosphere. 

“A cruise ship in hassle within the Nationwide Park is after all worrisome,” Arctic Command Commander Capt. Brian Jensen stated in an announcement, including, nevertheless, that the models obtainable to assist weren’t ready to take action instantly and that the climate within the space could be “unfavorable,” based on a translation. “… Within the particular state of affairs, nevertheless, we don’t see acute hazard to human life or the atmosphere, which is reassuring.” 

The closest ship obtainable to assist the vessel could be there no before Friday morning, assuming the climate holds up, the command stated, however officers stated they had been in touch with one other cruise ship to standby ought to they be wanted. 

As of Wednesday morning Jap time, the cruise ship was nonetheless grounded, officers stated.

The Ocean Explorer is amongst an “award-winning Infinity-class of vessels,” based on Aurora Expeditions, which presents excursions on the vessel. In response to the corporate, the Ocean Explorer is supposed to accommodate 134 expeditioners. The Joint Arctic Command says that after they got here throughout the vessel, there have been 206 individuals onboard. 

The ship was designed with luxurious, providing “state-of-the-art facilities,” together with an onboard health club, jacuzzi, lounges, a spa, an atrium, a library and extra. 

Whereas officers stated the state of affairs stays “troublesome,” they’ve “gained assurance that the crew and passengers of Ocean Explorer are in good situation,” based on a translation. 

“The environment on the ship is nice and everybody on board is ok,” the Joint Arctic Command said on Facebook. 

Li Cohen

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content material author for CBS Information.