Injuries reported on Crown Princess cruise ship

[kdibattista]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204274,00.html

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

PORT CANAVERAL, Florida — A cruise ship listed heavily while on its way to New York on Tuesday, injuring some passengers, Coast Guard officials said.

The Crown Princess, owned by Princess Cruises, had just departed from Port Canaveral when it experienced problems with its steering equipment, said Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer James Judge. He did not know the number of people injured or the extent of their injuries.

The cruise ship was on its way back to the port and will be met by Coast Guard officials and medical personnel, he said.

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises declined to immediately comment.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

We live only about 2 miles from the port and I am watching the ship pull into port right now, you can hear helicopters and ambulances racing up A1A to the port as I'm typing. They are now closing off the road next to the port to allow these helicopters to land to fly the most seriously injured to the hospitals. Scary. I hope that all are ok or will be ok.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Here is a live shot of the ship now:

 

[Kimberle]

A cruise ship listed heavily

I have no idea what this means.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Slanted on it's side. According to our news here from the port it listed or leaned about 45-50 degrees.

 

[Nancy]

Wouldn't that be almost on it's side then? I'm trying to remember what a 45 degree angle looked like.

 

[Gigantor]

90 degrees would put the vessel on it's side so picture 1/2 of 90 degrees (45)

 

[monkeyboy]

Columbian Coffee?

 

[Mom21]

Wouldn't that be almost on it's side then? I'm trying to remember what a 45 degree angle looked like.

Think of a clock. Straight up would be 12. On its side would be the 3 or a 90 degree angle. So 45 degree would be halfway between the 1 and 2

 

[kdibattista]

2angelsinheaven... can you update us on what you are seeing?

Thanks!!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Well from here just the ship and it seems that the flow of ambulances into the port has stopped. The two helicopters just flew over about 2-3 minutes ago, a young child to Orlando's Children's Hospital and an adult to the Trauma center in Melbourne.

Here is a link to the live feed from the terminal: http://www.wesh.com/video/9329788/index.html

 

[SplshMtn99]

Columbian Coffee?

 

[cardaway]

Even 30% would be enough to send people into things they shouldn't be running into.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

According to the port and Coast Guard they are saying a Steering Casuality, a major list, which would have been caused by many things, human error or mechanical. However they are saying the ship is still seaworthy and guests will stay onboard tonight and will disembark tomorrow if not injured.

Similar to what happened last year with the rouge wave, this time though it seems no waves were involved, it was not another ship.

It was reported that about an hour before this incident the captain announced that there would be "rough waters" ahead and turbulance. Although the sea looked very calm.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I saw this on the news here and they had a passenger from this area called and was filling the newscaster in on what was happening. She had said that she and her husband were lying in bed watching tv and they both fell out of bed-Said they had everyone waiting in the dining room when she was talking...Hopefully everyone is okay!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Follow this link http://www.wesh.com/video/9329788/index.html, but ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, CLICK on "Passenger describes cruise ship injuries".

 

[Seahunt]

Also from local news :

The Crown Princess, a cruise ship making its fourth voyage, suddenly rolled heavily to its left Tuesday, injuring two people critically, including a child, officials said.

The first ambulance, carrying two people, arrived at Cape Canaveral Hospital at 7:30 p.m. Officials said it contained two patients, one a "moderate" injury and one with a "minor" injury, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Two people were airlifted to Orlando. There were 12 to 14 people with serious injuries, who were taken out by ambulance and about 30 other passengers with minor injuries.

Passengers on the Crown Princess cruise ship were on a nine-day cruise and preparing to head to their final port of New York. At about 3:40 p.m., the ship departed Port Canaveral and began sailing north when the ship's auto pilot apparently malfunctioned.

"We understand from radio transmission from the captain of the ship to the Coast Guard that he believes the ship was on auto pilot, and for some reason the auto pilot let loose, and there was a sharp right turn that spun the ship," Local 6 New reporter Donald Forbes said. "That caused passengers to go flying here and there."

A representative from Princess Cruises released a statement Tuesday night.

"We understand that some passengers were injured as the ship sharply turned, and we are in the process of determining the number of injuries and their extent," the statement said.

Forbes said a cable reportedly came loose and hit several passengers on the ship during the incident.

"We are hearing anywhere from 25 to 50 people are injured," Forbes said. Authorities said at least 10 people suffered major injuries, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Officials initially said that the ship experienced what it called a steering casualty.

The Crown Princess was returning to Port Canaveral, where the ship will be met by medical personnel to assist passengers who may need medical attention, the report said.

Eight fire engines, fourteen ambulances, three utility vehicles and four Space Coast Area Transit buses were at the cruise terminal.

Port Canaveral officials said they believe there is no structural damage to the Crown Princess.The ship didn't hit a wave or a sandbar, according to Julie Benson, a Princess Cruises spokeswoman.

Coast Guard checked the steering mechanisms of ship before it was allowed to enter the port channel.

Crown Princess, the cruise line's newest ship, debuted last month in New York. The 113,000-ton vessel was christened June 14 by Martha Stewart during a gala ceremony.

The 951-foot long cruise ship left Port Canaveral today to return to New York City. The ship was stranded approximately three miles off Port Canaveral, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The ship was leaving Port Canaveral after a port-of-call visit when its steering malfunctioned. The problem caused the ship to lean or "list" to one side, Coast Guard spokesman Bobby Nash said.

The Crown Princess carries a maximum of 3,080 passengers and a crew of 1,200, but it is not known how many people were on the ship when it left the port Tuesday.

State Road 401 was shut down as a landing zone Tuesday night.

********

Carol O'Connell spoke by phone to reporters from the ship.

In her words: "There were people running for life jackets, and then afterward a lot of people hugging and crying, people looking for children.

"The captain came on and made an announcement that there was a problem with the steering mechanism and the captain sounded so terrified, which led to my feeling of more panic."

O'Connell also said she saw flooding, tables overturned and broken glass everywhere.

 

[Annie68]

Oh my, I pray everyone involved is OK. I can't imagine how terrifying that would be, I would be scrambling for my kids.

Of course I would read this tonight, I just put down a big deposit on a family cruise for 2/07!

 

[4nana]

OMG - I've been watching the passengers interviewed this am. How very frightening it must have been and the fear not know if they'd survive . Passengers say they noticed ship leaning 2 days prior to tipping.

The newly built Crown is one very huge tall ship and looking at pics one wonders how it even floats w/o tilting. Accidents happen, but Carnival/Princess has some explaining to do, as this is only the Crown's 4th voyage and surely will be a big blow for the cruise industry.

I LOVE cruising, have been in some very rough waters, but go without ever thinking my life is in jeopardy.

Godspeed all involved. ^i^

 

[mrsltg]

Columbian Coffee?

I needed that laugh today - thanks!!!!