Travel News
Fire Strands Carnival Cruise Ship Off Mexican Coast
Fire Strands Carnival Cruise Ship Off Mexican Coast
A rescue effort is underway on Tuesday to save nearly 4,500passengers and crew drifting off the coast of Mexico after their cruise ship
lost power in an engine room fire.
One of Carnival Cruise Lines’ biggest ships, the Carnival Splendor was on the second day of a seven-day
Mexican Riviera cruise and 200 miles south of San Diego, when a fire broke out
early Monday morning.
According to a statement from Carnival Cruise Lines, the fire caused the ship’s
main generators to shut down, leaving the vessel dead in the water.
The fire was put out quickly without injuries to anyone onboard.
However, the fire not only damaged the engine, but also knocked out air
conditioning, hot food service, hot water, and telephones.
According to the cruise line, auxiliary power to the ship was maintained, and
toilets and cold running water were restored on the ship Monday night.
Rescue efforts for the 952-foot, 113,000-ton ship will be
complex. Tug boats are expected to reach the ship by midday today and tow the
ship to the port of Ensenada, but Carnival is uncertain how long the voyage will
be.
Once in Ensenada, passengers will be bused back into the United States.
An alternate plan is for the ship’s engineers to restore power to the ship. If
the crew is successful, the ship will return on its own to the port of Long
Beach, California, where the cruise originated.
Meanwhile, the ship is in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, which has deployed
the tugboats and supply-carrying aircraft.
Also coming to the rescue is the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which has
been diverted from training maneuvers to aid the stranded cruisers. Once the
carrier reaches the area where the ship is stranded, planes carrying 35 pallets
of supplies will be delivered to the Splendor,
stated representatives from the U.S. Navy.
Carnival says it has canceled the remainder of the voyage and will provide full
refunds to all guests, along with reimbursement for transportation costs and a
free future cruise of equal value. Guests are being provided with bottled water
and food, and are able to roam around the ship’s upper deck area.
Aiding passengers are favorable sea conditions and clear skies. TheSplendor was supposed to make stops in Puerto
Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: USA Today, Associated Press
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