Viking Polaris
Dec 5, 2022 21:18:41 GMT
Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2022 21:18:41 GMT
At this stage we have not had any trip reports for Viking Polaris or Octantis as they are still very new.
But as there has been very high profile dual incidents including a death on the Polaris last week I am posting articles here as I locate them. They may be out of date order.
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havarikommisjonen.no/Sjofart/Undersokelser/22-661
The google translate version says:
Investigation of very serious marine accident south of Cape Horn
The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board has decided to investigate the maritime accident with the passenger vessel Viking Polaris. On Tuesday 29 November 2022, the vessel was south of Cape Horn, when the ship was hit by a large wave and several windows to the passenger cabins were smashed. One passenger died and four others were injured.
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www.luxurytraveldocs.com/2022/12/viking-polaris-has-tragic-accident.html?fbclid=IwAR028RqReuUwnc1sCJkv-bL1DK7KK5rMKm0qviSaYTy95OtkypB2Qnf3TaE&m=1&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Viking Polaris Antarctica Expedition has Tragic Accident during Storm in the Drake Passage
Reports are coming in about a Tragic Accident on the Viking Polaris Antarctica Expedition during the Drake Passage portion of the sailing, off the southernmost portion of South America. By all accounts the company is handling the event with professionalism and compassion. There is a report of injuries and loss of one life. The cause is allegedly a rogue wave. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who are affected by this tragedy.
The Viking Octanis is returning to land to avoid the storm as well without any incident.
From a Viking spokesperson:
"There was a rogue wave incident involving the Viking Polaris on November 29 at 22:40 local time, while the ship was sailing toward Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship sustained limited damage during the incident and arrived in port in Ushuaia without further incident on Wednesday afternoon local time.
It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies. We will continue to offer our full support to the family in the hours and days ahead.
Four other guests sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and were treated by the ship’s onboard doctor and medical staff.
We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities.
Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel.
After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the ship’s next scheduled departure, the December 5-17 Antarctic Explorer itinerary; all impacted guests and their travel advisors have been notified directly by Viking Customer Relations."
According to National Geographic, "a rogue wave is usually defined as a wave that is two times the significant wave height of the area. The significant wave height is the average of the highest one-third of waves that occur over a given period. Rogue waves can disable and sink even the largest ships and oil rigs." A rogue wave can generate thousands of tons of force.
The rogue wave affected the Polaris after another incident on one of the expedition ship's Zodiac boats. According to Larry Mah's Facebook page one day ago (public post), "There was a major accident with a zodiac with injuries. Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating. So, we are returning to Ushuaia at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!" There were many ships in the channel and according to passengers, the female captain of the Polaris performed well.
The area of the ship affected was the port side forward. Our sources tell us several rooms were affected on a lower deck, with broken and missing cabin windows witnessed from many guests when tendering to and from the ship in Ushuaia. The broken and missing windows led to significant water and debris intrusion into the affected cabins affecting passengers' ability to get out of their cabins. Most passengers’ personal belongings were left behind in the affected cabins (which are actually 8 rather than 6 as we reported earlier) and many are without anything, including passports. Fear of a second wave was paramount and passengers felt evacuation from the cabins immediately was necessary. Viking is assisting with local embassies to secure transport home from Argentina and some passengers are just getting back their belongings that were underwater for days. The crew actually gave shoes to some of the passengers whose belongings were underwater. Salvage of the affected has been performed by the submarine captain on board who is a salvage expert.
The deceased passenger was a 62-year-old woman who was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said.
Passengers on the nearby Ponant ship described 8 meter swells and over 50 knot winds.
Most of the cabins affected on Deck 2 have this appearance on Viking Expeditions' website.
(ADMIN NOTE: Photos of broken windows and cabin walls all along what I assume is 2nd or 3rd deck - I will see if I can add these).
December 1, 1800 PM
The Viking Polaris returned to Ushuaia and is now moved out of the port. Passengers are being disembarked and flown home. Passengers we know are reporting good support from Viking. We will not provide their entire ordeal to respect their privacy. Here is the Viking Polaris position at approximately 1800 ET today courtesy of cruisemapper.com.
While the ship has moved away from port, the current sailing and the one following, to depart December 6, 2022 are canceled.
This occurs after two US passengers drown during a zodiac excursion less than two weeks ago on another expedition cruise line. Additionally, the Scenic Eclipse has a lesser known incident, without injury, when a expedition submarine was unable to surface for two hours.
When we sailed Viking last, in the Summer of 2021, we felt the crew were exceptional in dealing with the COVID-19 issues our ship experienced. Certainly this is no comparison to what the affected passengers on board the Polaris experienced. This story is important to us because we have been considering this itinerary with Viking Expeditions.
Respectful updates as we hear them. This incident reminds the two of us how we take our safety and health for granted sometimes, and we are truly grateful for our health and each other.
December 5, 2022
All affected passengers' passports have been returned. A large amount of their possessions have been returned, and passengers are drying them out as best they can, using heated floors and boot warmers. Many electronics are beyond salvaging due to water damage. Most passengers who were not affected have flown home, others who had passport issues, about 30 passengers, have now been flown from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
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www.cbsnews.com/news/cruise-ship-death-rogue-wave-kills-passenger-antarctic-viking-polaris/?fbclid=IwAR1GSpUAzv6XV4o_sTvFfOk3tdXX_B6rBA9sTPJKgIqRacJB4GQCpKyuCqc&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
WORLD
"Rogue wave" kills American woman, injures four others on Antarctic cruise ship
UPDATED ON: DECEMBER 2, 2022 / 7:15 PM / CBS/AFP
A U.S. woman died and four other passengers were injured when a massive wave smashed into an Antarctic cruise ship during a storm as it sailed off the southernmost tip of South America, officials said Friday. The 62-year-old woman was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday, Argentine authorities said.
The Viking Polaris cruise ship was sailing toward Ushuaia in Argentina — the main starting point for expeditions to Antarctica — when there was "a rogue wave incident," a representative of the Viking cruise company said in a statement.
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gcaptain.com/rogue-wave-kills-passenger-on-vikings-newest-polar-expedition-cruise-ship/?fbclid=IwAR0lLKrGJ7_E0FchzNQVrVZiOWf-Q8hUaCLN43Y3QPqqwsJzV2Z9k8Gb8VQ&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Rogue Wave Kills Passenger on Viking’s Newest Polar Expedition Cruise Ship
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 67617
December 2, 2022
One person was killed and four others injured after a Viking expedition cruise ship was struck by a rogue wave off the southern tip of South America this week.
The “rogue wave incident” happened on Tuesday, November 29, on board the Viking Polaris, which Viking only recently took delivery of in September, as it was sailing towards Ushuaia, Argentina, Viking Cruises confirmed in a statement.
“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies,” the statement said. Four other passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated on board.
The ship suffered limited damage, reportedly with several broken windows, and arrived in port in Ushuaia on the afternoon of November 30.
Waves are generally classed as ‘rogue’ when they are over twice the height of the average sea state around them.
The Drake Passage, extending between Cape Horn at South America’s southernmost tip and Antarctica, is notorious for its extreme weather conditions and turbulent seas.
“We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” Viking’s statement said. “Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel.”
The deceased victim has reportedly been identified as a 62-year-old American woman.
Viking Polaris is Viking’s second purpose-built “Polar Class” expedition ship and was delivered by Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway in September. Both Viking Polaris and sister ship Viking Octanis, delivered in December 2021, are spending the austral summer in Antarctica, before traveling to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages starting next spring and summer. The vessels, with a length of 205 meters and a beam of 23.5 meters, have a passenger capacity of 378 people.
As a result of the incident, Viking has cancelled the ship’s next scheduled departure on December 5.
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www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-04/rogue-wave-kills-us-passenger-on-antarctic-cruise/101731482?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=messenger&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web&fbclid=IwAR3gCYCqGu0po6cPjCmCR7Z_i1PXlT7dv50FXmlMN3TXiHknbgIbwEnonlw&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
'Rogue wave' kills US passenger on Antarctic cruise ship, injures four others
Posted Sun 4 Dec 2022 at 9:25am
One person has died and four have been injured after a massive wave smashed into an Antarctic cruise ship during a storm, while sailing off the southernmost tip of South America.
Key points:
Authorities say a 62-year-old woman from the US was hit by broken glass when a wave broke cabin windows
Four other tourists sustained "non-life-threatening injuries" and were treated onboard
The ship suffered minor damage and was anchored off Ushuaia, 3,200 kilometres from the capital Buenos Aires
The 62-year-old woman from the US was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said.
The Viking Polaris cruise ship was sailing towards Ushuaia in Argentina -- the main starting point for expeditions to Antarctica -- when there was "a rogue wave incident," a representative of the Viking cruise company said in a statement.
"It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest sympathies," the statement said.
Four other tourists "sustained non-life-threatening injuries" and were treated onboard.
The ship suffered minor damage and was anchored off Ushuaia, 3,200 kilometres from the capital Buenos Aires, with several windows smashed on the side, AFP journalists reported.
A federal court has opened a case to determine what happened. Viking said it was also "investigating the facts surrounding this incident."
Scientists often refer to rogue waves as extreme storm waves that surge out of nowhere, often in an unpredictable direction, and can look like a steep wall of water, up to twice the size of surrounding waves.
These rare killer waves were once seen as a myth reported by mariners or explorers.
The polar explorer Ernest Shackleton wrote in his book of a "gigantic" freak wave he encountered in Antarctica in 1916.
However, scientists have learned more about them in recent decades, studying how they emerge and how to predict the wall of water that can surge up even in calm seas.
The Viking Polaris was launched in 2022 and is the newest ship in the company's fleet, with a capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members.
The incident comes two weeks after two tourists died on another Antarctic cruise.
The two men, aged 76 and 80, had left the World Explorer ship for an excursion on an inflatable zodiac boat that overturned near the shore.
AFP/AP
Posted 4 Dec 2022
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www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2022/12/04/viking-polaris-cruise-accident-wave-antarctic-trip-topeka-passengers/69695346007/
Topekans rocked by blast and rogue wave during Antarctic cruise. They share their story.
Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
Dec 4 2022.
One second, Pam Trusdale was sitting in a heavy-duty inflatable boat happily taking video of penguins in Antarctica.
The next, the Topeka woman was thrown into the air by an explosion.
Two other passengers also went airborne after the blast beneath the boat's floor.
One woman suffered a badly broken leg.
The other passenger spent perhaps two minutes in the water before he was pulled back onto the boat.
Trusdale, her husband, Tom, and the boat's other occupants subsequently learned that the Viking Polaris, the ship on which they were taking a cruise, wasn't capable of providing the medical attention the woman needed.
So the cruise ship headed north through gale-force winds and rough waters toward South America.
En route, it was struck by a giant rogue wave, which killed one passenger and injured four others.
Trusdale shared that account of her experiences Friday in a telephone interview with The Topeka Capital-Journal from Ushuaia, Argentina, where she and her husband were waiting to return to the United States.
"We've had a little bit of excitement that we hadn't anticipated," she said.
The trip to Antarctica was the eighth on Viking Cruise Lines for the Trusdales, who are retired and have been married for 10 years.
"We've seen a lot of the world," Pam Trusdale said.
She is the widow of Col. Mike O'Toole, wing commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard, who died in 2003 in a plane crash on takeoff from a private airport in northeast Shawnee County.
Pam Trusdale and their adult daughter, Shannon O'Toole Mason, survived after being hospitalized for injuries suffered in that crash.
After her husband died, Pam reconnected with Tom Trusdale, her high school sweetheart.
They've enjoyed numerous adventures, including climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
Pam Trusdale said she had been particularly excited about the couple's cruise to Antarctica.
The Trusdales booked passage on the Viking Polaris, identified on Viking Cruise Lines' website as a 665-foot-long cruise ship that was built this year and has the capacity to house 256 crew members and 378 guests.
"It was kind of our 'trip of a lifetime,'" Pam Trusdale said.
Though the Trusdales hadn't known it, others on the Antarctica cruise included Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah and his wife, Ann Mah, a member of the Kansas State Board of Education.
The couples spent time together on the cruise, though the Mahs weren't with the Trusdales on the excursion that turned dangerous.
The Trusdales were among three couples who made plans to ride Monday morning in a small, yellow submarine. Neither of the other couples were from Kansas.
They all got into a heavy-duty inflatable boat known as a Zodiac.
The weather was nice for Antarctica, with overcast skies and temperatures around 30 degrees, as the Zodiac's pilot took the three couples to the area where they were to board the submarine, Pam Trusdale said.
They learned they would have to wait 20 minutes, and the driver started "cruising around," she said.
At the time, Pam Trusdale was sitting at the front of the Zodiac, with her husband next to her.
As she was holding onto a rope attached to the boat with one hand and taking cell phone video of penguins with the other, she said, a "pretty significant explosion" took place beneath the floor between the front two passengers.
The woman sitting directly across from Trusdale took the brunt of the impact, suffering a badly broken leg.
Another passenger on that side was thrown from the boat.
Pam Trusdale managed to hold onto her phone. She and her husband crossed over to the other side and helped to stop the boat. Tom Trusdale, another male passenger and the Zodiac pilot pulled the man back into the Zodiac on his back, Pam Trusdale said.
"Tom knew exactly what to do," she said. "I just stayed on the floor and waited for help."
Meanwhile, a woman who was sitting on the opposite side of the boat moved over to the side the Trusdales had been sitting on to make sure it remained balanced.
"We couldn't have been with better people, because everyone was calm under pressure," Pam Trusdale said. "Everything was under control."
The Zodiac pilot responded calmly and professionally, and Viking got them all the help they needed immediately, she said.
Pam Trusdale was wearing an ankle brace Friday because of minor injuries suffered in the accident.
"It just hurts to walk, because I bruised my heel," she said. "My left leg is worse than my right."
Pam Trusdale said while she feels lucky to be alive, she never felt the experience was life-threatening.
"It was just scary," she said. "It could have been so much worse."
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page about the blast and its aftermath.
"They couldn’t helicopter (the woman) out in the weather, and she needs attention the boat can’t provide," she said. "So we are headed back to Ushuaia, Argentina."
The Drake passage, the body of water that lies between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, was mentioned in a message Larry Mah put Tuesday on his Facebook page.
"Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating," he said. "So, we are returning to Ushuaia (Argentina) at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!"
The cruise ship was bound for Ushuaia Tuesday when it was struck during a storm by a giant "rogue wave," which killed one person and injured four, USA Today reported.
"The rogue wave hit the side of the ship where our cabin is, but it mainly impacted Deck 2 at the front," Trusdale said. "We were on Deck 4 at the back."
Ann Mah said she and her husband were in bed in their room on Deck 4 at the front when the rogue wave struck.
"I understand water came in on 3, but nothing like 2," she said. "We had furniture get knocked over in our room, but no damage."
Viking released a statement confirming one of its guests had died.
"We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest sympathies," it said, adding that four other passengers were treated for injuries that weren't life-threatening by the ship's onboard doctor and medical staff.
The ship "sustained limited damage during the incident," and arrived in Ushuaia on Wednesday afternoon, Viking added.
Trusdale said she learned afterward that if they hadn't been on the Polaris, which has "all the latest technology," the damage from the storm could have been much worse.
The damage from the storm caused Viking Cruise Lines to abandon its initial plans to cruise along the Chilean coast for a few days, and to instead drop off all its passengers at Ushuaia.
The Trusdales and Mahs remained in Ushuaia on Friday, and it wasn't clear when they might be able to fly back to Topeka.
Still, Pam Trusdale said Viking Cruise Lines has shown the "utmost professionalism" and done a good job of coping with what happened.
She said she trusts the company to provide a refund for the trip.
More:KU-based team conducts research in Antarctica
Pam Trusdale added that she and her husband plan to make separate future trips with Viking to Norway and the Mekong Delta, after which they'll have traveled with that cruise line to every continent.
"This won't slow us down," she said.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at 785-213-5934 or threnchir@gannett.com.
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www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2022/11/30/larry-and-ann-mah-take-antarctica-trip-on-which-woman-is-badly-hurt/69687733007/
Larry and Ann Mah on trip as rescuers try to get injured woman to Argentina from Antarctica
Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
30 Nov 2022
A woman suffered a badly broken leg during an accident on a large, heavy-duty inflatable vehicle called a "Zodiac" Monday during a trip to Antarctica in which participants included Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah and his wife, Ann Mah, Kansas State Board of Education member.
"They couldn’t helicopter (the woman) out in the weather, and she needs attention the boat can’t provide," Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page. "So we are headed back to Ushuaia, Argentina."
She added, "Prayers for the injured passenger and guidance for the crew!"
The Drake passage, a body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, was mentioned in a message Larry Mah sent out Tuesday on his Facebook page.
"There was a major accident with a Zodiac with injuries," he wrote. "Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating. So, we are returning to Ushuaia (Argentina) at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!"
Larry Mah wrote about 6 a.m. Wednesday that the boat carrying the couple had finished going through the Drake passage after "a VERY rough ride" and was expected to arrive in Ushaia later that morning.
He posted shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday: "The plan was to return to Ushuaia to evacuate the injured passenger. Then tour the Chilean coast for the next few days. Unfortunately, the ship hit a rough wave in the Drake Channel and sustained significant damage so we will be getting off the ship in Ushuaia."
Larry Mah, a Democrat, is in his third term as Shawnee County treasurer, having taken office in 2013.
Ann Mah, also a Democrat, has served since 2017 on the Kansas State Board of Education. She previously held the 53rd District seat from 2005 to 2013 in the Kansas House of Representatives.
The two have recently shared information on their Facebook pages about a trip they're taking to South America, which included a planned excursion to Antarctica.
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Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page that she had "no idea what comes next" after Monday's accident.
"In the meantime we have a cozy boat with a well-stocked kitchen and bar to keep us busy until we dock tomorrow," she wrote.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
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But as there has been very high profile dual incidents including a death on the Polaris last week I am posting articles here as I locate them. They may be out of date order.
-------------------------
havarikommisjonen.no/Sjofart/Undersokelser/22-661
The google translate version says:
Investigation of very serious marine accident south of Cape Horn
The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board has decided to investigate the maritime accident with the passenger vessel Viking Polaris. On Tuesday 29 November 2022, the vessel was south of Cape Horn, when the ship was hit by a large wave and several windows to the passenger cabins were smashed. One passenger died and four others were injured.
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www.luxurytraveldocs.com/2022/12/viking-polaris-has-tragic-accident.html?fbclid=IwAR028RqReuUwnc1sCJkv-bL1DK7KK5rMKm0qviSaYTy95OtkypB2Qnf3TaE&m=1&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Viking Polaris Antarctica Expedition has Tragic Accident during Storm in the Drake Passage
Reports are coming in about a Tragic Accident on the Viking Polaris Antarctica Expedition during the Drake Passage portion of the sailing, off the southernmost portion of South America. By all accounts the company is handling the event with professionalism and compassion. There is a report of injuries and loss of one life. The cause is allegedly a rogue wave. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who are affected by this tragedy.
The Viking Octanis is returning to land to avoid the storm as well without any incident.
From a Viking spokesperson:
"There was a rogue wave incident involving the Viking Polaris on November 29 at 22:40 local time, while the ship was sailing toward Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship sustained limited damage during the incident and arrived in port in Ushuaia without further incident on Wednesday afternoon local time.
It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies. We will continue to offer our full support to the family in the hours and days ahead.
Four other guests sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and were treated by the ship’s onboard doctor and medical staff.
We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities.
Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel.
After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the ship’s next scheduled departure, the December 5-17 Antarctic Explorer itinerary; all impacted guests and their travel advisors have been notified directly by Viking Customer Relations."
According to National Geographic, "a rogue wave is usually defined as a wave that is two times the significant wave height of the area. The significant wave height is the average of the highest one-third of waves that occur over a given period. Rogue waves can disable and sink even the largest ships and oil rigs." A rogue wave can generate thousands of tons of force.
The rogue wave affected the Polaris after another incident on one of the expedition ship's Zodiac boats. According to Larry Mah's Facebook page one day ago (public post), "There was a major accident with a zodiac with injuries. Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating. So, we are returning to Ushuaia at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!" There were many ships in the channel and according to passengers, the female captain of the Polaris performed well.
The area of the ship affected was the port side forward. Our sources tell us several rooms were affected on a lower deck, with broken and missing cabin windows witnessed from many guests when tendering to and from the ship in Ushuaia. The broken and missing windows led to significant water and debris intrusion into the affected cabins affecting passengers' ability to get out of their cabins. Most passengers’ personal belongings were left behind in the affected cabins (which are actually 8 rather than 6 as we reported earlier) and many are without anything, including passports. Fear of a second wave was paramount and passengers felt evacuation from the cabins immediately was necessary. Viking is assisting with local embassies to secure transport home from Argentina and some passengers are just getting back their belongings that were underwater for days. The crew actually gave shoes to some of the passengers whose belongings were underwater. Salvage of the affected has been performed by the submarine captain on board who is a salvage expert.
The deceased passenger was a 62-year-old woman who was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said.
Passengers on the nearby Ponant ship described 8 meter swells and over 50 knot winds.
Most of the cabins affected on Deck 2 have this appearance on Viking Expeditions' website.
(ADMIN NOTE: Photos of broken windows and cabin walls all along what I assume is 2nd or 3rd deck - I will see if I can add these).
December 1, 1800 PM
The Viking Polaris returned to Ushuaia and is now moved out of the port. Passengers are being disembarked and flown home. Passengers we know are reporting good support from Viking. We will not provide their entire ordeal to respect their privacy. Here is the Viking Polaris position at approximately 1800 ET today courtesy of cruisemapper.com.
While the ship has moved away from port, the current sailing and the one following, to depart December 6, 2022 are canceled.
This occurs after two US passengers drown during a zodiac excursion less than two weeks ago on another expedition cruise line. Additionally, the Scenic Eclipse has a lesser known incident, without injury, when a expedition submarine was unable to surface for two hours.
When we sailed Viking last, in the Summer of 2021, we felt the crew were exceptional in dealing with the COVID-19 issues our ship experienced. Certainly this is no comparison to what the affected passengers on board the Polaris experienced. This story is important to us because we have been considering this itinerary with Viking Expeditions.
Respectful updates as we hear them. This incident reminds the two of us how we take our safety and health for granted sometimes, and we are truly grateful for our health and each other.
December 5, 2022
All affected passengers' passports have been returned. A large amount of their possessions have been returned, and passengers are drying them out as best they can, using heated floors and boot warmers. Many electronics are beyond salvaging due to water damage. Most passengers who were not affected have flown home, others who had passport issues, about 30 passengers, have now been flown from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
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www.cbsnews.com/news/cruise-ship-death-rogue-wave-kills-passenger-antarctic-viking-polaris/?fbclid=IwAR1GSpUAzv6XV4o_sTvFfOk3tdXX_B6rBA9sTPJKgIqRacJB4GQCpKyuCqc&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
WORLD
"Rogue wave" kills American woman, injures four others on Antarctic cruise ship
UPDATED ON: DECEMBER 2, 2022 / 7:15 PM / CBS/AFP
A U.S. woman died and four other passengers were injured when a massive wave smashed into an Antarctic cruise ship during a storm as it sailed off the southernmost tip of South America, officials said Friday. The 62-year-old woman was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday, Argentine authorities said.
The Viking Polaris cruise ship was sailing toward Ushuaia in Argentina — the main starting point for expeditions to Antarctica — when there was "a rogue wave incident," a representative of the Viking cruise company said in a statement.
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gcaptain.com/rogue-wave-kills-passenger-on-vikings-newest-polar-expedition-cruise-ship/?fbclid=IwAR0lLKrGJ7_E0FchzNQVrVZiOWf-Q8hUaCLN43Y3QPqqwsJzV2Z9k8Gb8VQ&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Rogue Wave Kills Passenger on Viking’s Newest Polar Expedition Cruise Ship
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 67617
December 2, 2022
One person was killed and four others injured after a Viking expedition cruise ship was struck by a rogue wave off the southern tip of South America this week.
The “rogue wave incident” happened on Tuesday, November 29, on board the Viking Polaris, which Viking only recently took delivery of in September, as it was sailing towards Ushuaia, Argentina, Viking Cruises confirmed in a statement.
“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies,” the statement said. Four other passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated on board.
The ship suffered limited damage, reportedly with several broken windows, and arrived in port in Ushuaia on the afternoon of November 30.
Waves are generally classed as ‘rogue’ when they are over twice the height of the average sea state around them.
The Drake Passage, extending between Cape Horn at South America’s southernmost tip and Antarctica, is notorious for its extreme weather conditions and turbulent seas.
“We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” Viking’s statement said. “Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel.”
The deceased victim has reportedly been identified as a 62-year-old American woman.
Viking Polaris is Viking’s second purpose-built “Polar Class” expedition ship and was delivered by Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway in September. Both Viking Polaris and sister ship Viking Octanis, delivered in December 2021, are spending the austral summer in Antarctica, before traveling to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages starting next spring and summer. The vessels, with a length of 205 meters and a beam of 23.5 meters, have a passenger capacity of 378 people.
As a result of the incident, Viking has cancelled the ship’s next scheduled departure on December 5.
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www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-04/rogue-wave-kills-us-passenger-on-antarctic-cruise/101731482?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=messenger&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web&fbclid=IwAR3gCYCqGu0po6cPjCmCR7Z_i1PXlT7dv50FXmlMN3TXiHknbgIbwEnonlw&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
'Rogue wave' kills US passenger on Antarctic cruise ship, injures four others
Posted Sun 4 Dec 2022 at 9:25am
One person has died and four have been injured after a massive wave smashed into an Antarctic cruise ship during a storm, while sailing off the southernmost tip of South America.
Key points:
Authorities say a 62-year-old woman from the US was hit by broken glass when a wave broke cabin windows
Four other tourists sustained "non-life-threatening injuries" and were treated onboard
The ship suffered minor damage and was anchored off Ushuaia, 3,200 kilometres from the capital Buenos Aires
The 62-year-old woman from the US was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said.
The Viking Polaris cruise ship was sailing towards Ushuaia in Argentina -- the main starting point for expeditions to Antarctica -- when there was "a rogue wave incident," a representative of the Viking cruise company said in a statement.
"It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest sympathies," the statement said.
Four other tourists "sustained non-life-threatening injuries" and were treated onboard.
The ship suffered minor damage and was anchored off Ushuaia, 3,200 kilometres from the capital Buenos Aires, with several windows smashed on the side, AFP journalists reported.
A federal court has opened a case to determine what happened. Viking said it was also "investigating the facts surrounding this incident."
Scientists often refer to rogue waves as extreme storm waves that surge out of nowhere, often in an unpredictable direction, and can look like a steep wall of water, up to twice the size of surrounding waves.
These rare killer waves were once seen as a myth reported by mariners or explorers.
The polar explorer Ernest Shackleton wrote in his book of a "gigantic" freak wave he encountered in Antarctica in 1916.
However, scientists have learned more about them in recent decades, studying how they emerge and how to predict the wall of water that can surge up even in calm seas.
The Viking Polaris was launched in 2022 and is the newest ship in the company's fleet, with a capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members.
The incident comes two weeks after two tourists died on another Antarctic cruise.
The two men, aged 76 and 80, had left the World Explorer ship for an excursion on an inflatable zodiac boat that overturned near the shore.
AFP/AP
Posted 4 Dec 2022
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www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2022/12/04/viking-polaris-cruise-accident-wave-antarctic-trip-topeka-passengers/69695346007/
Topekans rocked by blast and rogue wave during Antarctic cruise. They share their story.
Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
Dec 4 2022.
One second, Pam Trusdale was sitting in a heavy-duty inflatable boat happily taking video of penguins in Antarctica.
The next, the Topeka woman was thrown into the air by an explosion.
Two other passengers also went airborne after the blast beneath the boat's floor.
One woman suffered a badly broken leg.
The other passenger spent perhaps two minutes in the water before he was pulled back onto the boat.
Trusdale, her husband, Tom, and the boat's other occupants subsequently learned that the Viking Polaris, the ship on which they were taking a cruise, wasn't capable of providing the medical attention the woman needed.
So the cruise ship headed north through gale-force winds and rough waters toward South America.
En route, it was struck by a giant rogue wave, which killed one passenger and injured four others.
Trusdale shared that account of her experiences Friday in a telephone interview with The Topeka Capital-Journal from Ushuaia, Argentina, where she and her husband were waiting to return to the United States.
"We've had a little bit of excitement that we hadn't anticipated," she said.
The trip to Antarctica was the eighth on Viking Cruise Lines for the Trusdales, who are retired and have been married for 10 years.
"We've seen a lot of the world," Pam Trusdale said.
She is the widow of Col. Mike O'Toole, wing commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard, who died in 2003 in a plane crash on takeoff from a private airport in northeast Shawnee County.
Pam Trusdale and their adult daughter, Shannon O'Toole Mason, survived after being hospitalized for injuries suffered in that crash.
After her husband died, Pam reconnected with Tom Trusdale, her high school sweetheart.
They've enjoyed numerous adventures, including climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
Pam Trusdale said she had been particularly excited about the couple's cruise to Antarctica.
The Trusdales booked passage on the Viking Polaris, identified on Viking Cruise Lines' website as a 665-foot-long cruise ship that was built this year and has the capacity to house 256 crew members and 378 guests.
"It was kind of our 'trip of a lifetime,'" Pam Trusdale said.
Though the Trusdales hadn't known it, others on the Antarctica cruise included Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah and his wife, Ann Mah, a member of the Kansas State Board of Education.
The couples spent time together on the cruise, though the Mahs weren't with the Trusdales on the excursion that turned dangerous.
The Trusdales were among three couples who made plans to ride Monday morning in a small, yellow submarine. Neither of the other couples were from Kansas.
They all got into a heavy-duty inflatable boat known as a Zodiac.
The weather was nice for Antarctica, with overcast skies and temperatures around 30 degrees, as the Zodiac's pilot took the three couples to the area where they were to board the submarine, Pam Trusdale said.
They learned they would have to wait 20 minutes, and the driver started "cruising around," she said.
At the time, Pam Trusdale was sitting at the front of the Zodiac, with her husband next to her.
As she was holding onto a rope attached to the boat with one hand and taking cell phone video of penguins with the other, she said, a "pretty significant explosion" took place beneath the floor between the front two passengers.
The woman sitting directly across from Trusdale took the brunt of the impact, suffering a badly broken leg.
Another passenger on that side was thrown from the boat.
Pam Trusdale managed to hold onto her phone. She and her husband crossed over to the other side and helped to stop the boat. Tom Trusdale, another male passenger and the Zodiac pilot pulled the man back into the Zodiac on his back, Pam Trusdale said.
"Tom knew exactly what to do," she said. "I just stayed on the floor and waited for help."
Meanwhile, a woman who was sitting on the opposite side of the boat moved over to the side the Trusdales had been sitting on to make sure it remained balanced.
"We couldn't have been with better people, because everyone was calm under pressure," Pam Trusdale said. "Everything was under control."
The Zodiac pilot responded calmly and professionally, and Viking got them all the help they needed immediately, she said.
Pam Trusdale was wearing an ankle brace Friday because of minor injuries suffered in the accident.
"It just hurts to walk, because I bruised my heel," she said. "My left leg is worse than my right."
Pam Trusdale said while she feels lucky to be alive, she never felt the experience was life-threatening.
"It was just scary," she said. "It could have been so much worse."
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page about the blast and its aftermath.
"They couldn’t helicopter (the woman) out in the weather, and she needs attention the boat can’t provide," she said. "So we are headed back to Ushuaia, Argentina."
The Drake passage, the body of water that lies between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, was mentioned in a message Larry Mah put Tuesday on his Facebook page.
"Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating," he said. "So, we are returning to Ushuaia (Argentina) at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!"
The cruise ship was bound for Ushuaia Tuesday when it was struck during a storm by a giant "rogue wave," which killed one person and injured four, USA Today reported.
"The rogue wave hit the side of the ship where our cabin is, but it mainly impacted Deck 2 at the front," Trusdale said. "We were on Deck 4 at the back."
Ann Mah said she and her husband were in bed in their room on Deck 4 at the front when the rogue wave struck.
"I understand water came in on 3, but nothing like 2," she said. "We had furniture get knocked over in our room, but no damage."
Viking released a statement confirming one of its guests had died.
"We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest sympathies," it said, adding that four other passengers were treated for injuries that weren't life-threatening by the ship's onboard doctor and medical staff.
The ship "sustained limited damage during the incident," and arrived in Ushuaia on Wednesday afternoon, Viking added.
Trusdale said she learned afterward that if they hadn't been on the Polaris, which has "all the latest technology," the damage from the storm could have been much worse.
The damage from the storm caused Viking Cruise Lines to abandon its initial plans to cruise along the Chilean coast for a few days, and to instead drop off all its passengers at Ushuaia.
The Trusdales and Mahs remained in Ushuaia on Friday, and it wasn't clear when they might be able to fly back to Topeka.
Still, Pam Trusdale said Viking Cruise Lines has shown the "utmost professionalism" and done a good job of coping with what happened.
She said she trusts the company to provide a refund for the trip.
More:KU-based team conducts research in Antarctica
Pam Trusdale added that she and her husband plan to make separate future trips with Viking to Norway and the Mekong Delta, after which they'll have traveled with that cruise line to every continent.
"This won't slow us down," she said.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at 785-213-5934 or threnchir@gannett.com.
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www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2022/11/30/larry-and-ann-mah-take-antarctica-trip-on-which-woman-is-badly-hurt/69687733007/
Larry and Ann Mah on trip as rescuers try to get injured woman to Argentina from Antarctica
Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
30 Nov 2022
A woman suffered a badly broken leg during an accident on a large, heavy-duty inflatable vehicle called a "Zodiac" Monday during a trip to Antarctica in which participants included Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah and his wife, Ann Mah, Kansas State Board of Education member.
"They couldn’t helicopter (the woman) out in the weather, and she needs attention the boat can’t provide," Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page. "So we are headed back to Ushuaia, Argentina."
She added, "Prayers for the injured passenger and guidance for the crew!"
The Drake passage, a body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, was mentioned in a message Larry Mah sent out Tuesday on his Facebook page.
"There was a major accident with a Zodiac with injuries," he wrote. "Evacuation options are limited, and the weather is deteriorating. So, we are returning to Ushuaia (Argentina) at top speed. The Drake Channel has gale force winds (30-60 MPH) with waves 15-20 feet high. The next 600 miles is going to be a very rough ride!!"
Larry Mah wrote about 6 a.m. Wednesday that the boat carrying the couple had finished going through the Drake passage after "a VERY rough ride" and was expected to arrive in Ushaia later that morning.
He posted shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday: "The plan was to return to Ushuaia to evacuate the injured passenger. Then tour the Chilean coast for the next few days. Unfortunately, the ship hit a rough wave in the Drake Channel and sustained significant damage so we will be getting off the ship in Ushuaia."
Larry Mah, a Democrat, is in his third term as Shawnee County treasurer, having taken office in 2013.
Ann Mah, also a Democrat, has served since 2017 on the Kansas State Board of Education. She previously held the 53rd District seat from 2005 to 2013 in the Kansas House of Representatives.
The two have recently shared information on their Facebook pages about a trip they're taking to South America, which included a planned excursion to Antarctica.
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Ann Mah wrote on her Facebook page that she had "no idea what comes next" after Monday's accident.
"In the meantime we have a cozy boat with a well-stocked kitchen and bar to keep us busy until we dock tomorrow," she wrote.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
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