Cruise ship runs aground off Bahamas

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MSC POESIA
MSC Poesia aground off the coast of Grand Bahamas Island. (photo: Captain Archer)

While heading to Port Lucaya near Freeport, Bahamas on Saturday, the 93,000-ton MSC Poesia ran aground on top of a reef. The cruise line hasn’t released a statement yet but the ship was later free during high-tide and was able to move to its next port of call.

The grounding didn’t stop the beach-goers as tender boats were able to ferry passengers from anchorage (or reefage) to the shores of Port Lucaya.

According to Captain Archer, a local captain in the port, “they waited for a tide to get high at 1800hrs she was pulled off with 4 tugs and a fifth standing by. At 2000hrs, she was free and continued on her journey at 19.5 knots to little Salvador. So I assume minimal damage, if any (with that speed)!”

MSC Poesia was on a special three-day music charter cruise to Grand Bahamas Island and Half-Moon Cay. Divers are expected to access reef damage today.

12:45 pm Update: A statement from MSC Cruises was released. “In navigating the harbor off Port Lucaya in the Grand Bahamas, MSC Poesia ran aground at 6:50 a.m. Saturday morning.  The ship and its guests were always completely safe and all onboard equipment and services continued to operate normally including all previously scheduled tender service and shore excursions,” said a spokeswoman with the company.

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Below shows some video and narration of the incident:

(Video from Fredgbscuba on YouTube)

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