Cruiseship hit something at sea!

JoeyandDavid · January 18, 2006

PORT EVERGLADES (WSVN) -- A cruise ship that left port in Fort Lauderdale this afternoon and apparently struck something while at sea causing structural damage, is on its way back to shore tonight.

The Queen Mary II, which belongs to the Cunard Line cruiseline, left Port Everglades at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday en route to South America. While at sea about five to six miles off the coast, the vessel hit something underneath the water causing alarm systems to go off in the control center of the ship.

The cruise ship is on its way back to Port Everglades and other than the structural damage, The Queen Mary II has not reported any other problems.

<]

TheSkipper · January 18, 2006

Wow, what a way to start a cruise! Keep us posted Joey.

Shari2 · January 18, 2006

I wonder how many people are on board, and if they'll have to leave the ship, and how long it will take to fix.

hazelson · January 18, 2006

Wow - talk about a short cruise - lol.

Joanandjoe · January 18, 2006

I hope the ship and the people are OK. The QM2 really moves! We saw the ship in NYC at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, and it was in Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday.

JoeyandDavid · January 18, 2006

Not right now it don't! :grin:

Sorry Joe i couldnt resisit :grin:

But I do join you in hoping noone was injured.

Joanandjoe · January 18, 2006

OK, Joey, you got me.

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether one of the four propulsion pods went out or whether the ship hit something. Meanwhile, I can't find any news about whether the ship has left port yet. It was still there at midnight.

When we saw the ship on Sunday, I remarked to Joan that this was the last time to see the ship in Manhattan. When it returns from the current long cruise (assuming it leaves Port Everglades!) it will go to the new Brooklyn docks.

JoeyandDavid · January 18, 2006

ok Joe help me out here...

If I was in NYC proper and wanted to cruise on a major brand cruise line how many different ports withing 100 miles of NYC could i choose to depart from?

Joanandjoe · January 18, 2006

Four within 100 miles of NYC: Manhattan, Brooklyn (starting next month), Bayonne (Port or Cape Liberty) and Philly. Within 250 miles, add Boston and Baltimore. Also within a long day's drive are Montreal, Norfolk, and maybe Quebec City. Some very small ships leave from other ports.

Joanandjoe · January 18, 2006

From the Coast Guard's Fla and Carib website: <]

MIAMI - The Coast Guard will conduct an inspection and investigation of the Queen Mary 2 when it arrives at Terminal 21 in Port Everglades about 10 p.m.

Approximately 5:30 p.m., the Captain of the Queen Mary 2 reported to the Coast Guard the ship had experienced a noise and unusual vibration in the engine room at approximately 1:50 p.m. five miles outside of the Port of Everglades and had reason to believe they may have struck a submerged object.

According to a statement released by Princess Cruises, bridge instruments indicated a problem with one of the shipÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s four propulsion motors.

A Captain of the Port Order was issued by the Coast Guard requiring the Queen Mary 2 to use tug-boats to assist in returning to port.

The vessel will be required to remain at the pier until the Coast Guard determines if the vessels and its passengers are safe. There have been no reports of injury or pollution as this time. The cause of the noise and vibration are not known at this time.

The Coast Guard will be working with the ships crew and flag state officials. The Queen Mary 2 is a United Kingdom flagged vessel. http://www.d7publicaffairs.com/

And here is a posting on another board regarding the status of the ship at 11 a.m.:<]

On Board Update

At approximately 11a.m. EST a large crane sits at the stern. The bow davit/crane has been raised, as if to remove the spare propellor blades. I spoke with two passengers who said they definitely heard a grinding, scraping vibration, but nothing "official" has been announced. Rick J