Empress of the North

The "Empress of the North" is a convert|360|ft|m|adj=on diesel-powered paddlewheeler operated by Majestic America Line. 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. [cite news | url = http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/whidbey/archives/117637.asp?from=blog_last3 | title = Nichols Brothers Part of Ferry Building Team | work = Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = 2007-07-06 ] She is listed as accommodating 223 guests, and cruises 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. [ [http://www.majesticamericaline.com/products/Ship.aspx?ID=3 Empress of the North webpage] Accessed May 14, 2007.]

Several smaller port cities in Alaska like Wrangell and Petersburg depend on the visits by the Empress for a substantial amount of tourist-related commerce. [cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003733898_webalaskacruiseship04.html | title = Little Alaska towns feel the loss of cruise ship's visits| work = The Seattle Times | date = 2007-06-04]

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, [cite news|url=http://www.komotv.com/home/related/7496677.html|title=Fourth grounding incident for Empress of the North|date=2007-05-15] 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. [cite news | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/25/national/main1439520.shtml | title = The 360-Foot Empress Of The North Ran Aground In Western U.S.| publisher = CBS News | date = 2006-03-24]

Early on May 14, 2007, The "Empress of the North" struck Rocky Island while navigating a 90 degree turn to starboard about convert|50|nmi|km|-1 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. [cite news | url = http://www.adn.com/money/industries/tourism/story/8891574p-8791696c.html | title = Course change led ship to shoal | work = Anchorage Daily News | date = 2007-05-17] 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. [cite news | url = http://www.news1130.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20070514_093234_5004 | title = Passengers safe after cruise ship ran aground | publisher = CNN | date = 2007-05-14] 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. [cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/14/alaska.ship/index.html | title = Passengers rescued from cruise ship off Alaska |publisher = CNN | date = 2007-05-14] The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation, [ [http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/070514.htm NTSB Advisory concerning the investigation of the May 14, 2007 Empress of the North grounding incident] Accessed May 15, 2007.] [ [http://aprn.org/2007/07/05/ntsb-finds-small-cruise-ship-safety-problems-recommends-inspections/ NTSB finds small cruise ship safety problems; recommends inspections] ] but maritime experts believe the accident was caused by the inexperience of a ship's officer. [ [http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/alaska-cruise-ship-new-mate-wrong-turn/ New Mate - Wrong Turn | gCaptain.com] ]

The Empress was repaired at the shipyards of Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon by Vigor Marine LLC, and returned to service on July 7. [cite news | url=http://www.sitnews.us/0607news/061207/061207_empress.html | title=Empress of the North Drydocked in Portland|publisher=Sit News|date=2007-06-12] [ [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-06-2007/0004620983&EDATE= Vigor Marine Completes Empress of the North Repairs] Accessed July 7, 2007.]

References

External links

Majestic America Line press releases regarding the May 14, 2007 grounding incident
* [http://www.majesticamericaline.com/cms/Files/UPDATED%20Statement%20-%205%2014%2007_3.pdf Notification (PDF format)]
* [http://www.majesticamericaline.com/cms/Files/EON%20Next%20Steps%20Release_FINAL.pdf Initial assessment (PDF format)]
* [http://www.majesticamericaline.com/cms/Files/Sailings%20Cancelled%205%2016%2007%20(2).pdf Initial estimation of 2007 season cancellations (PDF format)]
* [http://www.majesticamericaline.com/cms/Files/Empress%20of%20the%20North%20Statement%206%205%2007.pdf Repairs and revised impact of 2007 schedule dates (PDF format)]