Thread: M/S Fram (Hurtigruten) hits an Iceberg

(This report does not name the ship, but other reports online say it is the M/S Fram)

Norwegian cruise ship hits Antarctic iceberg

Updated Sat. Dec. 29 2007 8:08 AM ET
The Associated Press
OSLO -- Officials say a Norwegian cruise ship with 300 people on board rammed an iceberg in the Antarctic after its motor failed. No injuries were reported.
Ragnar Norum, a spokesman for the Hurtigruten cruise line company. says the ship had engine problems yesterday and a brief power outage near Browns Bluff in the Antarctic. The engine started again and the liner continued on its route.

FULL ARTICLE

Last month, it was the M/S Explorer (and ice ship)
This month, it was the M/S Fram (ice ship)
This still makes me wonder about Princess sending the Star Princess (regular ship) down there next month.....

It does make one wonder!

It was the MS Fram. This is their newest vessel, launched this April, 2007. Here's another article naming the ship involved.

Norwegian cruise ship Fram hits iceberg in Antarctica - Europe

Here is a Blog:

MySA.com: Metro | State

Follow the link for each day, but here is from when they hit the berg
Nett blog excerpts


Web Posted: 12/29/2007 11:31 PM CST



Excerpts from the Nett Family’s Antarctica travel blog, written by Erica Nett:

Later: It wouldn't be a Nett vacation without something going wrong ... We didn’t disappoint you! ... Nick and Erica were up on the 7th deck where the observation room is and all of a sudden over the loud speaker they announce THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. PROCEED TO DECK 7 IMMEDIATELY. DRESS WARMLY. WEAR YOUR WATERPROOF GEAR. Nick and I ran to our room because we were not dressed warm at all. People were a frantic. I know we were. We had no idea where our parents were. Anyway we get to our room. We start throwing on our clothes, especially our waterproof gear. I look our the window and I yell at Nick, "OH MY GOD, OH S---, WE ARE GOING HIT THAT GLACIER." Seriously, there was a glacier ... way taller than our ship, it was massive. As we are trying to get dressed, I’m deciding what to grab ... I grab meds, camera, laptop, and my warm gear. I look back at the window and the wall of ice is coming sooooo fast. Nick is freaking out yelling at what to grab ... and I say FORGET IT, it’s time to go!!! Grab your stuff and let’s go!! As I say that, we hit the ice. I fell to the floor. I grabbed the life jackets and we started running upstairs. We got our seats and found mom and dad. ...

So, here’s what happened to mom and dad. ... They were in their room when the announcement went off. Mom fell into the door knob in her room. Dad said holy s--- ... They grabbed their warm gear which they had just changed out of. They had no idea what had happened since they are on the opposite side of the ship. They didn’t see the urgency of the situation and they didn’t see the glacier coming.


See the full story on this San Antonio family at this link >> MySA.com: Metro | State

Thanks Chuck Interesting reading. It said it was in the vacinity of the MS Explorer sinking.

Yep, but this ship was actually right near the tip of the Antarctica mainland when it happened. If you read the blog, one of the reasons they kept going back this area is they were going to drop off someone at that camp for medical reasons so a plane could fly them out. You see them mention King Georges Island a few times which is the area the Explorer when down in. The place they were going to before they got diverted was Deception Island. This is the place the Star Princess is going to in a couple of weeks with thousands of passengers, most of which will not be bringing waterproof thermal clothing.

But you're right, As far as I am concerned, this whole area is the same area (Antarctica) and not a place cruise ships should be going!

You've heard about ships like the Granduer that hit a dock in the caribbean the other year because a gust of wind caught it? Well, imagine if the Star Princess loses power or has an aziopod problem. A ship that size in the harsh wind down there will get pushed pretty fast.

After reading this blog, I don't think I want to see that part of the world. Would be nice, but could be also disappointing, with a premature ending to my expensive cruise.

Originally Posted by MD11F

After reading this blog, I don't think I want to see that part of the world. Would be nice, but could be also disappointing, with a premature ending to my expensive cruise.

best do it by air!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by smitty

best do it by air!!!!!!!!!

If the wind is too strong,................ nope.

BTW, I was looking at some itineraries of cruise ships sailing in the region, and in addition to the Star Princess, there is the Azamara Journey, HAL Prinsendam & Rotterdam, MV Discovery, Marco Polo, Regent Explorer 2.

These cruises are very popular, it's just that a few incidents are happening very frequently recently.

Passengers escape injuries; captain orders 'free drinks on the house'

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A Norwegian cruise ship carrying some 300 people lost engine power during an electrical outage and struck an Antarctic glacier, smashing a lifeboat but causing no injuries, officials said Saturday.

Norwegian cruise ship hits glacier - Americas - MSNBC.com