UnCruise Adventures confirmed a fire incident aboard Wilderness Discoverer on Monday, June 5. While the vessel was sailing in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, the engine room caught fire at 7:23 a.m.; 78 passengers (including 51 guests and 27 crew were onboard).
“We are relieved to confirm that there have been no injuries resulting from the fire. Our highly trained crew promptly extinguished the fire using established emergency protocols, and CO2 was successfully deployed for everyone's safety,” said company owner and CEO, Captain Dan Blanchard.
The small-ship adventure cruise company reported that it has conducted thorough assessments and found “there are currently no discernible environmental impacts within the affected area.” Local and federal authorities have additionally been notified, and the line is working closely with them to ensure a coordinated response in the area.
Vessels in the area assisted with the disembarkation of the passengers from Wilderness Discoverer, including all guests and 17 of the 27 crew. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of all affected guests during this transition. Every effort is being made to minimize any inconvenience caused by the incident,” UnCruise Adventures said in a press update. “The cruise line will be providing full refunds to all passengers affected by the incident and providing hotels and flights home for those affected. Our commitment to our guests' satisfaction remains unwavering, and our crew is working with guests and authorities to ensure expedited care.”
The cause of the engine room fire is yet to be determined and an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause.
The line concluded: “UnCruise Adventures extends its gratitude to the swift response of emergency personnel and acknowledges the professionalism and composure demonstrated by our crew throughout this challenging situation. We are continuing to monitor this and will provide timely updates as new information becomes available to keep all stakeholders informed as the situation progresses.”
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