This report discusses the May 14, 2007, accident in which the passenger vessel 'Empress of the North' grounded on Rocky Island, about 20 miles southwest of Juneau. The vessel was carrying 206 passengers and 75 crewmembers on a cruise through Alaskas Inland Passage. The junior third mate, a newly licensed officer, was on his first navigation watch at the time of the accident. The U.S. Coast Guard and good Samaritan vessels evacuated passengers and crewmembers and transported them back to Juneau. No injuries or pollution resulted from the accident. The cost of repairing the vessel and returning it to service was estimated at $4.8 million. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the following safety issues as a result of its accident investigation: the master's decision to put an inexperienced third mate on watch without supervision or guidance; the junior third mate's actions; watchkeeping procedures; documentation deficiencies; and malfunctioning lifesaving devices. As a result of its investigation, the Safety Board made recommendations to the U.S. state and Federal maritime academies and to the Passenger Vessel Association. Earlier recommendations were made to the Coast Guard.
National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Grounding of U.S. Passenger Vessel 'Empress of the North', Intersection of Lynn Canal and Icy Strait, Southeast Alaska, on May 14, 2007
2008
122 pages
Report
No indication
English
Marine & Waterway Transportation , Transportation Safety , Alaska , Passenger ships , Accident investigations , Marine accidents , Ship maneuvering , Rocks , Watchkeeping , Documentation , Lifesaving devices , Coast guard , Empress of the North , Majestic America Line , Groundings , NTSB/MAR-08/02 , Lynn canal , Icy Strait