Attempts to free the Ocean Explorer, a cruise ship grounded in a remote area of Greenland above the Arctic Circle, were unsuccessful, according to Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command (JAC).
On September 11th, Ocean Explorer, one of the small expedition cruise ships, ran aground in Greenland, in a remote part of the Arctic. There are 206 passengers and crew members on board the Ocean Explorer. Since then, the ship has unsuccessfully tried to free itself.
Rescue vessels from Danish Defence has been dispatched to the scene, and in the meantime, the Joint Arctic Command, with the help of personnel from the Sirius Sled Patrol, has ensured that all 206 persons on board are safe.
The ship’s grounding did not occur on rocks, but on sand and mud, JAC informs. The ship has tried to free itself several times at high tide – unfortunately without success.
When the inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen arrives at the ship, the crew will assess the situation and plan the next course of action. One possibility among several is that Knud Rasmussen can try to pull the cruise ship free.
There are also other ships in the vicinity of the cruise ship that Joint Arctic Command may ask to assist. Joint Arctic Command has been in contact with another cruise ship which is in the vicinity of the Ocean Explorer. This ship has been asked to remain in the area to assist should the situation develop.
