Empress of the North
 Empress of the North on the Columbia River. |
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| Name: | Empress of the North |
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The Empress of the North is a 360-foot (110 m) diesel-powered paddlewheeler that was formerly operated by Majestic America Line.[1] She was built in 2002 at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard on Whidbey Island for $50 million and debuted as a cruise ship in 2003.[2] She is listed as accommodating 223 guests, and cruised Alaska's Inside Passage, the Pacific Northwest, and the Columbia River. The ship is decorated with a 19th century Russian theme, but adds an Alaskan touch with carvings and masks.[3]
Several smaller port cities in Alaska like Wrangell and Petersburg depended on the visits by the Empress for a substantial amount of tourist-related commerce.[4]
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[edit] Grounding incidents
The Empress has run aground four times. She struck a navigation lock in October 2003 at the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River,[5] and suffered another grounding in November 2003 near The Dalles in the Columbia River. She grounded again in March 2006 near Washougal in the Columbia River.[6]
Early on May 14, 2007, The Empress of the North struck Rocky Island while navigating a 90 degree turn to starboard about 50 nautical miles (90 km) from Juneau, Alaska in Icy Strait. She began taking on water, forcing all 248 passengers to abandon ship. Reports that the vessel either grounded on Hanus Reef, several miles away, or later drifted there were in error.[7] Several fishing boats, a tugboat and barge, another small cruise ship, and the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty evacuated the Empress' passengers, who were eventually transferred to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Columbia. There were no injuries, and the rescue effort took place in relatively favorable conditions, amid intermittent rain showers and light winds.[8] Though the Empress had developed a 6 degree list, 33 members of the crew stayed aboard to facilitate the vessel's return to Juneau under her own power. She was escorted en route there by Coast Guard helicopter and a third small cruise ship.[9] The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation,[10][11] but maritime experts believe the accident was caused by the inexperience of a ship's officer. The Empress was repaired at the shipyards of Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon by Vigor Marine LLC, and returned to service on July 7, 2007.[12][13]
[edit] Current Status
The Empress was taken out of service in April 2008 after its owner, Ambassadors Cruise Group announced that it intended to sell off the assets of the Majestic America Line (the brand under which the Empress sailed). The vessel was docked at Hayden Island in Portland, Oregon and is now under the care of the United States Maritime Administration.
[edit] References
- ^ Hilton, Spud (2009-01-11). "Cruise travel looks like a good deal in 2009". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/09/TRE414LIM4.DTL&type=travel.
- ^ "Nichols Brothers Part of Ferry Building Team". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2007-07-06. http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/whidbey/archives/117637.asp?from=blog_last3.
- ^ Empress of the North webpage Accessed May 14, 2007.
- ^ Sutton, Anne (2007-06-04). "Little Alaska towns feel the loss of cruise ship's visits". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003733898_webalaskacruiseship04.html.
- ^ "Fourth grounding incident for Empress of the North". 2007-05-15. http://www.komotv.com/home/related/7496677.html.
- ^ "The 360-Foot Empress Of The North Ran Aground In Western U.S.". CBS News. 2006-03-24. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/25/national/main1439520.shtml.
- ^ "Course change led ship to shoal". Anchorage Daily News. 2007-05-17. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/tourism/story/8891574p-8791696c.html.
- ^ "Passengers safe after cruise ship ran aground". CNN. 2007-05-14. http://www.news1130.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20070514_093234_5004.
- ^ "Passengers rescued from cruise ship off Alaska". CNN. 2007-05-14. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/14/alaska.ship/index.html.
- ^ NTSB Advisory concerning the investigation of the May 14, 2007 Empress of the North grounding incident Accessed May 15, 2007.
- ^ NTSB finds small cruise ship safety problems; recommends inspections
- ^ "Empress of the North Drydocked in Portland". Sit News. 2007-06-12. http://www.sitnews.us/0607news/061207/061207_empress.html.
- ^ Vigor Marine Completes Empress of the North Repairs Accessed July 7, 2007.
[edit] External links
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Wikinews has related news: Alaskan cruise ship evacuated |
Majestic America Line press releases regarding the May 14, 2007 grounding incident
