Giant 'rogue wave' hits Antarctica-bound cruise ship, leaving one dead and four injured

[Kennywood]

Giant 'rogue wave' hits Antarctica-bound cruise ship, leaving one dead and four injured

One person died and four others were injured after a giant "rouge wave" hit an Antarctica-bound cruise ship, travel company Viking confirmed to multiple outlets.

The "rogue wave incident" occurred during a storm earlier this week – when the Viking Polaris cruise ship was heading towards Ushuaia, Argentina, a starting point for many trips to Antarctica, a Viking representative told AFP.

"It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest sympathies," the company's statement to AFP read, adding that four other passengers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries onboard.

The Viking Polaris also had some minor damage, AFP reported, noting that several windows were smashed. The ship was anchored off of Ushuaia following the incident.

"We wondered if we hit an iceberg. And there are no icebergs out here, but that's how it felt," Suzie Gooding, a passenger on the Viking Polaris, told WRAL News. "Everything was fine until the rogue wave hit, and it was just sudden. Shocking."

Viking told the outlet that the company's "focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew" and that they were working to arrange return travel for those impacted by the trip.


The giant wave broke several panes of glass on the Viking Polaris cruise ship sailing in Antarctic waters in a storm on November 29.

According to Viking's website, the Viking Polaris is a 665-foot-long cruise ship that was built in 2022. Its capacity allows for 378 guests and 256 crew members.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/giant-rogue-wave-hits-antarctica-bound-cruise-ship-leaving-one-dead-and-four-injured/ar-AA14PCIN?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=0d73a321854e4162c7919154d3cdc1fd

 

[NAB]

How sad and scary for them.

 

[insureman]

That's too bad. As rare as they are rogue waves are believed to be products of under ocean earthquakes from what I understand.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's too bad. As rare as they are rogue waves are believed to be products of under ocean earthquakes from what I understand.

I found this on the internet:

“Rogue waves are a result of different swell interfering constructively, that is two wave fields combining such that two wave crests add up to produce a much taller wave. Another way they are caused is the interaction of waves with surface currents,” Stössel explains.

https://today.tamu.edu/2015/11/11/rogue-waves-can-cause-big-damage/

Big waves caused by earthquakes are called tsunamis.
While rogue waves occur randomly, a tsunami follows a major disturbance in the ocean, such as an earthquake.
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/129-similarities-and-differences-tsunamis-and-surf-waves

 

[insureman]

I found this on the internet:

“Rogue waves are a result of different swell interfering constructively, that is two wave fields combining such that two wave crests add up to produce a much taller wave. Another way they are caused is the interaction of waves with surface currents,” Stössel explains.

https://today.tamu.edu/2015/11/11/rogue-waves-can-cause-big-damage/

Big waves caused by earthquakes are called tsunamis.
While rogue waves occur randomly, a tsunami follows a major disturbance in the ocean, such as an earthquake.
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/129-similarities-and-differences-tsunamis-and-surf-waves

My mistake for confusing them with tsunamis.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My mistake for confusing them with tsunamis.

I had to look it up, because I didn't know how rogue waves happen. I guess that's my "what did I learn today?" bit of knowledge.

 

[Intr3pid]

While really sad to hear this - and the rogue waves are truly freak events - it's a Viking ship at it again. Was the Norway/Arctic Circle accident in 2019, and this time, it's all the way south. Apparently, there was a zodiac incident on board before the wave.

Drake Passage is known for rough seas. If a ship is sailing on this route, its lower cabin windows need to be strong enough to take those waters on.

 

[Flying Fish]

We haven't been fortunate enough to do Antarctica yet, but it's definitely high on our wish list. It's surprising to me that a ship as new as the Polaris would not have windows designed with enough strength to take on that passage if that's the intended itinerary for that ship. I guess despite the reputation of that area maybe waves that tall and strong are rare enough they don't consider them in design - I find that hard to believe, though.