The Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the Norwegian Escape, was leaving Taino Bay cruise terminal in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic when the ship went aground on Monday, 14 March 2022 around 5pm. Puerto Plata was the first call for a seven-day Caribbean cruise that had started in Port Canaveral, Florida on 12 March. The ship was headed for the second stop in St. Thomas.
The official statement of the cruise line:
“During the afternoon of March 14, 2022, Norwegian Escape made contact with the channel bed as it was departing Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. All guests and crew are safe, and there are no reports of damages to the ship. Operations on board have not been impacted, and all services and activities continue as scheduled. We are currently working on a solution to free the ship and ready her for a safe departure.”
As reported, tugboats investigated yet were not able to move the ship and the decision was to wait for high tide.
Vice Admiral Ramon Gustavo Betances Hernandez, commander of the Dominican Armada, said the preliminary report is that the ship was departing in windy conditions that caused the ship to veer from the channel that leads to deep ocean waters. The solution: “It’s a combination of helping with more tugboats and releasing cargo,” Vice Admiral Betances Hernandez explained to the press. “So far it is a situation that is under control, where the safety of cruise passengers and crew members is guaranteed, as well as the structure of the vessel,” said the Vice Admiral late on 14 March.
“For us this is the most important thing, to guarantee safety,” said the director of the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), Jean Luis Rodriguez told the press.
At around 10pm, nevertheless, it was reported that the ship was cleared from the sandbar and was taken back to Taino Bay for an underwater inspection.
On board the ship are 3,223 passengers and 1,618 crew.
Puerto Plata is the country’s leading cruise ship destination. So far, in 2022 some 54 cruise ships have docked at the two terminals – Amber Cove and the new Taino Bay port.
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15 March 2022