Port Miami Boat Accident Closes Harbor to Cruise Ships

Last Cruise Ship Leaves PortMiami at 3:00 a.m.

(Updated 7:45 a.m.) — The last cruise ship left PortMiami early this morning at 3:00 a.m. All vessels from Sunday are now out to sea with the new group of passengers.

Norwegian Escape arrived its private island of Great Stirrup Cay at 6:45 a..m. Carnival Celebration is bound for Amber Cove where she will arrive on Tuesday morning. MSC Seascape, which was the last to leave PortMiami this morning, will arrive Nassau, Bahamas at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Both channels in PortMiami, North Harbor (cruise ship lane) and the South Channel (cargo lane) are now open to maritime traffic and are moving as scheduled.

Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest, and Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas are in port this morning and will leave on schedule this afternoon between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

This will be the last entry. You can find the latest article on the Miami boat accident here.

Cruise Departures Delayed Until Late Sunday

(Updated 6:20 p.m. ET) — The three cruise ships arriving late today because of the Miami boat accident early Sunday morning will depart South Florida late this evening.

MSC Seascape is calling for pilots at 10:00 p.m.

Carnival Celebration is calling for pilots at 11:00 p.m.

Norwegian Escape is calling for pilots at 11:59 p.m.

The schedule can change based on quickly the crew can turn the ships and provision the vessels.

Cruise ships due Monday are Carnival Conquest, Carnival Sunrise, and Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas.

Cruise Ships Now Entering PortMiami 

(Updated 3:20 p.m. ET) — Cruise ships are entering the harbor and will soon be positioned to dock. 

Departure times will vary depending on operations. If you are sailing, information will be provided by your respective cruise line. 

Any significant updates will be posted on this story until the last ship leaves this evening. 

Pilots Waiting to Board Cruise Ships

(Updated 3:00 p.m. ET) — The Biscayne Bay Pilots are ready to bring the three cruise ships into port. 

Norwegian Escape, MSC Seascape, and Carnival Celebration are underway and heading towards the sea buoy, where the harbor pilot will board the vessels and bring them up the North Channel. 

The ships are currently stacked up in a single file line for entry with Norwegian Escape, MSC Seascape, and Carnival Celebration.

What happens next?

After the ships are docked and cleared by local authorities, all three ships will each have to offload between five and six thousand guests, before embarking on the next cruise. 

Along with offloading guests, the ships must also be provided with food and supplies, and do crew sign on and sign-offs. 

MSC Cruises sent a note to booked guests telling them not to expect embarkation to begin any time before 5:00 p.m. In turn, delaying the departure of MSC Seascape for approximately four hours. 

NCL advises guests that they may not start boarding until this evening, while Carnival Cruise Line’s latest update says they will provide another update at 4:40 p.m.

Miami expects thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, which could add an extra challenge to turning the vessels.

Vessel Recovered, Cruise Port is Reopening

(Updated 2:41 p.m. ET) — The tug, barge and divers are out of the channel and it is now reopening.

The Southeast USCG Southeast sector tweeted, Crews have successfully recovered the sunken vessel & removed the obstruction in the North channel. The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has authorized a reopening of PortMiami to all vessel traffic. 

Cruise Ships Wait While Divers Recover Sunken Boat

(Updated 2:25 p.m. ET) — A large barge and rescue divers continue to occupy the North Channel of PortMiami as teams try to recover a sunken vessel from the bottom of the channel. 

As a deep water port and home to both mega cruise and cargo ships. As of 2020, the main channel’s water depth is anywhere between 36 and 52 foot deep. 

In a statement from the Coast Guard, “Crews and partner agencies continue work to complete the investigation, salvage, and pollution mitigation efforts with dive teams to safely clear the North channel of the sunken vessel obstruction following the fatal boat collision this morning in PortMiami.”

Coast Guard: All Vessels Must Stay 900 Feet Away 

(Updated 1:55 p.m. ET) — The U.S. Coast Guard released a statement on Twitter regarding the area of the sunken vessel, which is in the North Channel of PortMiami.

The incident happened in the main channel, just east of Dodge Island, which is where cruise ships dock.

“This safety zone temporarily closes the North shipping channel to navigation. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami. 

Coast Guard and local law enforcement marine units may enforce the safety zone from 11 A.M. on June 25th until the vessel is removed and investigation has concluded. The safety zone will cover navigable waters within 300 yards of the submersed vessel.

No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without permission from the COTP or a designated representative.

Thank you for your understanding & support of our commitment to ensuring the safety & security of the ports & waterways of South Florida.”

U.S. Coast Guard Gives Update on Cruise Port Closure

(Updated 1:20 p.m. ET) — The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the South Channel is open to maritime traffic but the cruise ship channel (North Channel) remains closed due to a “sunken obstruction.”

15,000 cruisers remain off the coast in South Florida as a Miami boat accident has shutdown the waterway to all maritime traffic into PortMiami.

The U.S. Coast Guard is calling the area an “active security zone” while the investigation continues to be underway. The Fisher Island ferry and a pleasure craft that collided at 3:45 a.m. The accident left one dead and one injured.

All three cruise ships are in the Miami Beach anchorage area which is right off the coast of South Beach in approximately 100 feet of water.