The Ocean Explorer ran aground in Alpefjord, Greenland, with 206 passengers and crew on board. The liner could be stuck for several days waiting for the nearest ship to arrive to help.
According to a statement from Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC), the Ocean Explorer ran into trouble on September 12 in the Alpefjord, a scenic and rugged stretch of northeastern Greenland National Park.
All passengers on board are “safe and healthy,” travel agency Aurora Expeditions, operator of the Ocean Explorer, said Wednesday.
“What is important is that there is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel or the environment,” Aurora Expeditions said in a statement.
According to the statement, after the incident, the nearest inspection vessel, the Knud Rasmussen, was sent to help, but it will have to travel 2,200 kilometers to reach the liner. The ship is not expected to reach Ocean Explorer until Friday morning local time, depending on weather.
“Once we realized that Ocean Explorer would not be able to free itself, we directed the ship to the scene. We will also fly over the site as soon as possible to obtain fresh images to help us assess the situation on the ground. We have also enlisted the help of other vessels nearby, if their help becomes necessary,” said the head of the rescue operation, Brian Jensen.
A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 passengers, including several Americans, is stranded in a Greenland fjord. The trip promised stunning views through the Arctic Circle, costing over $20,000 per person. @sramosABC has more on the rescue operation. https://t.co/IOKelzdfRo pic.twitter.com/Bs5tvDbNHq
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) September 13, 2023
He added that the Ocean Explorer could still refloat at high tide, but if not, it would be assisted by the Knud Rasmussen.
According to the official Aurora Expeditions website, the ship was “specially built for expedition travel to the world’s most remote destinations.” According to JAC, the Greenlandic government, the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Accident Investigation Board were informed about the incident.