Cruise Deja Vu - Third Cruise Ship Stikes Rock in One Week!

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Jim Walker

Marco Polo Cruise ShipI thought that I was experiencing deja vu while reading accounts that a cruise ship struck underwater rocks in a Norwegian fjord yesterday, resulting in damage to the ship's hull.

The Marco Polo, operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages, was sailing from Sortland, Norway, when the incident occurred. 

A week ago we reported on a similar grounding which occurred when Hurtigruten's Kong Harald struck a submerged rock and took on water in another fjord in Norway.

On the same day, Lindblad Expedition's National Geographic Sea Lion ran aground near Panama.

Regarding the latest grounding, Cruise Critic is saying that the rock which the Marco Polo hit was "uncharted." This was what Captain Schettino claimed after he rammed the Concordia into rocks off of the coast of Giglio.

You can read another story about cruise ship operators using the "uncharted rock" excuse: "Uncharted Rocks" and Other Tall Tales - Clipper Adventurer Ran Into A Charted Hazard" 

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Rocks Ahoy! Two Cruise Ships Damaged in One Day

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Jim Walker

The final score today: under-water rocks - 2; cruise ships - 0.

Cruise Critic reports that a Hurtigruten cruise ship ran aground and took on water in a Norwegian fjord north of the Arctic Circle.  The 490 passenger Kong Harald had to wait for the tide to lift the cruise ship off a rock at the entrance to Trollfjord. The ship cruised to Svolvaer, where all of the 258 passengers onboard disembarked. Hurtigruten cancelled the remainder of the cruise, and the ship will be dry-docked for repairs to its breached hull. 

Meanwhile a Lindblad Expeditions "adventure ship" struck a submerged rock causing damage to the hull of the vessel and a propeller, according to USA TODAY.  The 62 passenger National Geographic Sea Lion was departing the Las Perlas Islands, 70 miles from Panama City, when it struck a rock. The Sea Lion will enter dry dock at Panama City to undergo repairs. The next departure of the vessel, scheduled to begin March 9, has been canceled. 

No crew or passengers were injured in these mishaps.

It seems too soon after Costa Concordia for cruise ships, large or small, to strike under-water rocks.

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship - Under Water Rocks   

Photo Credit: Costa Concordia - AP via Voice of America

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