Posted on 05/14/2007 8:34:29 AM PDT by bedolido
WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- A cruise ship ran aground off the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska early Monday, and over 200 passengers and crew members are being evacuated, U.S. TV networks reported.
The accident took place off Alaska's eastern peninsula near Juneau, CNN quoted Coast Guard officials as saying.
The Coast Guard has sent a cutter and a helicopter to the scene, and has asked all boats nearby to help evacuate the 281 passengers and crew, Fox News reported.
Dozens of people have been rescued from the 110-meter-long Empress of the North, the report said.
The ship, operated by Majestic America Line of Seattle, was listing at about 8 degrees after hitting a rock. There have been no reports of injuries so far, CNN reported.
Subtitle:
“When Orcas Attack”
Last message sent:
“Hey! Howcome all our life preservers are seal-shaped?”
Everyone is off the boat. No more rescue threads need to be sent.
It’s not your usual cruise ship - it’s an old-fashioned paddlewheeler:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/25/national/main1439520.shtml
whats the draft on a paddle wheeler ? - It cant be too deep
Caused by rising sea levels no doubt.
About one boulder diameter.
ping
It’s not a ship. It’s a riverboat, which is a self-powered barge.
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.
It would be a cold day in hell when I went to sea on that.
It shouldn’t be out on open water. I would blame tourism traffic causing this placing of colorful objects in treacherous circumstances.
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