Cruise Liner Stuck In Greenland

With 206 people on board, including passengers and crew, the Ocean Explorer went aground on a secluded section of Greenland earlier this week and may be stranded there for days.

Aurora Expeditions, the ship's operator, confirmed that three guests are infected with Covid-19. The group reported that, apart from the affected individuals, everyone on board is healthy and safe.

The Danish Joint Arctic Command (JAC) has released a statement stating that the Ocean Explorer has been stuck since Monday in the scenic and mountainous part of Northeast Greenland National Park known as Alpefjord. According to AE tour company, there is no imminent threat "to guests, the vessel, or the surrounding environment".

As stated, the Knud Rasmussen, the nearest inspection vessel, was sent to help after the incident, but it would take it 1,200 nautical miles (about 2,222 kilometers) to arrive at the cruise liner. On Friday night, the ship will hopefully make it to the Ocean Explorer.

According to Arctic Commander Brian Jensen, the ship could refloat on a high tide, and if that failed, the Knud Rasmussen could provide assistance. In order to better evaluate the situation at the scene, the rescuers will also fly over the location to acquire new photographs.

The Greenlandic government's fishery research vessel "Tarajoq" tried to move the cruise liner at Wednesday's high tide but was unable to complete the operations, the JAC reported.

The Ocean Explorer was especially designed for adventure travel to the planet's most inaccessible areas," as stated on the Aurora Expeditions website.

 

Source: cnn.com