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An accident involving the collapse of several large cranes reportedly occurred this afternoon at the Grand Bahamas shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas involving the Oasis of the Seas, resulting in the injury of several shipyard workers.

Video was taken after the accident of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship and surrounding dock.  The cruise ship was in dry dock for refurbishment at the shipyard in Freeport.

A newspaper in the Bahamas, the Tribune, reported on the accident, stating that the dockworker who took the video described the scene after the incident as follows:

“Working on the big Oasis, the ship collapsed, the dock collapsed, the crane collapsed. A couple of people might, don’t know, be missing. I was right there on the dock, working, and just missed it by the grace of God . . .  big accident, big accident. Something the Shipyard will never survive from this one. Dock two is gone, dock two is finished. All the cranes collapsed. Big, big, big disaster. Big, big, big disaster. Disaster, disaster, disaster. I’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime.”

The Tribune reported that according to police, “there were several injuries – none of them thought to be life-threatening.” The Bahamas Press which aired the videos did not confirm whether there were injuries.

Royal Caribbean released a press statement conforming damage to the dock and crane, and stating that it was assessing whether there is damage to the ship and injuries to personnel at the scene.

Royal Caribbean’s Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet happened to be on the Oasis of the Seas since its last cruise and took a video this morning of the drydock operations in Freeport.  I doubt that we will see any additional video of the drydock today . . .

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April 1, 2019 Update: In a subsequent statement, Royal Caribbean states that “shipyard management informs us of eight injuries, none of which are considered life threatening.”

April 2, 2019 Update: A number of photographs were posted online on social media and are available for viewing here.

April 3, 2019 Update:  Royal Caribbean stated via Twitter that it cancelled the sailing dates for April 7, 14, and 21. The cruise line told customers that anyone scheduled to go on the canceled trips will receive a full refund, along with a 100 percent future cruise certificate to apply toward a different sail date.

Travel Weekly reports that the Oasis of the Seas will leave the Grand Bahamas yard to be repaired at a shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

Photo/video credit: Top – Unidentified dockworker via Bahamas Press; bottom – via Royal Caribbean International Fan Club – Unofficial; photographer unknown.