GALVESTON (KHOU) — An engine fire on the cruise ship Carnival Triumph
has caused the vessel to operate on emergency generator power,
stranding it approximately 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula.
There are 3,143 guests and 1,086 crew members on board the four-day
cruise that departed Galveston on Thursday. The fire occurred over the
weekend, and now there are plans to tow the ship to Mexico where
passengers will take a flight back to the U.S.
Toby Barlow's wife, Anne, is on the cruise ship and he has been able to communicate with her by phone and text message.
"Basically she says, 'we are alright just scared,' " Barlow told KHOU
11 News. "There is no power at all on the boat and no water."
Barlow's wife said passengers are being told a tug boat will arrive Monday to begin the process of towing the boat to port.
Officials confirmed a tugboat is en route to the ship's location and
will tow the vessel to Progreso, Mexico, which is the closest port to
the ship's current location. This will allow guests to disembark and get
them home as quickly as possible. The ship is expected to arrive in
Progreso on Wednesday afternoon.
Carnival said an automatic fire extinguishing system activated and
the fire was contained to the aft engine room. There were no casualties
or injuries to guests or crew.
All guests have been asked to remain in the ship's public areas and open decks.
Another ship, the Carnival Elation, was on-scene and transferring
additional food and beverage provisions to the Carnival Triumph,
officials said.
Carnival said all guests on the current voyage will receive a full
refund inclusive of gratuities and any transportation expenses.
The company said it is in the process of contacting the designated
emergency contacts for all guests on board. Concerned family and loved
ones of guests and crew may call 1-888-290-5095 or 1-305-406-5534.
Carnival has contacted guests booked on the next voyage, which was
scheduled to depart Monday. Those guests have the option of canceling
now and receiving a full refund or waiting for further information to
determine if a shortened, partial voyage may be possible.
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Statement released Monday morning by Carnival:
February 11, 2013 – 11:25 am EST
Details on Initial Incident/Status of Tugboats
Yesterday morning, February 10, the cruise ship Carnival Triumph
experienced a fire in the aft engine room while the vessel was sailing
approximately 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The
ship's automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was
successfully extinguished. There were no casualties or injuries to
guests or crew.
The vessel is currently without propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico and
awaiting the arrival of two tugboats which will tow the ship to
Progreso, Mexico, which is the closest port to the ship's current
location. The ship is expected to arrive in Progreso late Wednesday and
guests will be flown from Mexico back to the U.S. on chartered aircraft
which the company is currently working to arrange.
Currently, a team consisting of additional technical crew and guest
service personnel is en route to the vessel and is expected to arrive
via boat later today. All appropriate authorities including U.S. Coast
Guard have been notified and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter is presently on
site next to the Carnival Triumph and in communication with the ship.
Update on Shipboard Services
The ship has maintained emergency generator power since the fire
occurred and the technical team on board has been successful in
gradually restoring auxiliary power to operate some basic hotel
functions. Currently, public and cabin toilets are operational in
certain sections of the ship, power has been restored to a limited
number of elevators, and some power in the Lido dining area is providing
for hot coffee and limited hot food service. Guests have been supplied
with food and refreshments throughout yesterday and this morning and
the ship has supplies on board to last until the vessel returns to
port.
Yesterday afternoon, the Carnival Elation rendezvoused with the Carnival
Triumph and supplied dinners for the guests on Carnival Triumph, along
with additional provisions. Early this afternoon, the Carnival Legend
will also be on site to do the same.
There are 3,143 guests and 1,086 crew on board.
We continue to update the designated emergency contacts for all guests
presently on board Carnival Triumph. Concerned family and loved ones of
guests and crew may call 888.290.5095 or 305.406.5534.
Upcoming Voyages and Compensation
All guests on the current Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full
refund of the cruise, along with transportation expenses. In addition,
they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for
this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during
the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges.
The next two voyages of Carnival Triumph, scheduled to depart Monday,
February 11 and Saturday, February 16 are being cancelled. Guests
scheduled to sail on either of those voyages will receive a full refund,
reimbursement for non-refundable travel expenses and a 25 percent
discount on a future three to five-day cruise. Carnival is in contact
with impacted guests to advise them of the situation.
The current Carnival Triumph voyage departed Galveston, Texas, on
Thursday, February 7 and was scheduled to return on Monday, Feb. 11.
GALVESTON (KHOU) -- A fire on a cruise ship has caused the vessel to operate on emergency generator power.
Officials say the ship Carnival Triumph experienced an engine room fire Sunday morning while the vessel was sailing approximately 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
There are 3,143 guests and 1,086 crew members on board the four-day cruise that departed Galveston, Texas on Thursday.
The ship's automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was contained to the aft engine room, according to Carnival.
Carnival Triumph is currently without propulsion and the ship is operating on emergency generator power. The ship's technical crew is continuing to assess the damage and attempting to restore power.
The U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities have been notified.
Officials say a tugboat is being dispatched to the ship's location in the event it is needed.
No injuries have been reported.
All guests have been asked to remain in the ship's public areas and open decks.
Carnival says all guests on the current voyage will receive a full refund inclusive of gratuities and any transportation expenses.
Carnival says it is in the process of contacting the designated emergency contacts for all guests on board. Concerned family and loved ones of guests and crew may call 1-888-290-5095 or 1-305-406-5534.
Carnival has contacted guests booked on the next voyage which was scheduled to depart Monday to make them aware of the situation. Monday's voyage will not depart as scheduled. Guests have the option of canceling now and receiving a full refund or waiting for further information to determine if a shortened, partial voyage may be possible.
