The announcement followed a third unsuccessful attempt to free the stranded cruise liner.
The Australia-based Aurora Expeditions, operator of the MV Ocean Explorer, stated that the infected passengers are in isolation and receiving care from the onboard medical team and crew. Despite these cases, the company assured that the rest of the passengers are “safe and healthy.”
Among the passengers, the ship carried 90 Australians and individuals from New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the United States. The MV Ocean Explorer, registered in the Bahamas, is a unique vessel with an inverted bow design. It features 77 cabins, 151 passenger beds, 99 crew beds, and several restaurants.
The ship ran aground in Alpefjord, located in the Northeast Greenland National Park, which is known as the world’s northernmost national park. The park covers an area almost equivalent to the combined sizes of France and Spain, with approximately 80% of its land permanently covered by an ice sheet. The nearest settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, is about 240 kilometers away from Alpefjord, and it is nearly 1.4 kilometers from Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
Efforts to free the ship have faced multiple challenges, with three failed attempts during high tide. The Danish Joint Arctic Command is leading the coordination of the operation. Their primary goal is to have the larger inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen reach the site, which is expected to occur on Friday evening, albeit slowed down by adverse weather conditions.
Despite the ordeal, passengers on board have reportedly maintained good spirits and are being looked after by the ship’s medical team and crew. The area’s weather forecast predicts sun, blue skies, and temperatures of around 5 degrees Celsius.
Local authorities in Greenland have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ship running aground and whether any laws were violated. No charges or arrests have been made thus far.
The Joint Arctic Command has also been overseeing the presence of other ships in the vicinity of the stranded cruise liner. Additionally, members of the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a Danish naval unit responsible for Arctic wilderness reconnaissance and enforcing Danish sovereignty in the region, visited the ship and reported that everyone on board was safe, with no damage to the vessel. Greenland is a semi-independent territory under Danish sovereignty, along with the Faroe Islands.
The situation on the MV Ocean Explorer highlights the complexities and challenges faced by the travel industry, particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic and the need to respond to emergency situations effectively.
