The expedition cruise ship Ocean Explorer found itself stranded after running aground in Alpefjord at the national park of Northeast Greenland. The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon when the Arctic Command received a distress call from the vessel. There are 206 passengers and crew members on board, all of whom are reported to be unharmed.

The Arctic Command, responsible for coordinating the response, has activated its resources to address the situation. However, the remote location and unpredictable weather conditions have posed challenges for the operation. The closest unit, the inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen, was approximately 1,200 nautical miles away at the time of the incident, and it is expected to reach the stranded cruise ship no earlier than Friday morning, local time, pending favorable weather conditions.

Captain Brian Jensen emphasized the seriousness of the situation, saying, "A cruise ship in trouble in the National Park is of course worrying. The nearest help is far away, our units are far away, and the weather can be very unfavorable. We are of course following the situation closely and take this incident very seriously."

To expedite the response, efforts are underway to secure assistance from relevant partners in the operational area, with the possibility of the Icelandic coast guard becoming involved in the resolution of this crisis.

In the meantime, Arctic Command has established contact with another cruise ship located near the Ocean Explorer, requesting its cooperation and readiness to assist should the situation escalate. Several scenarios are being considered for the rescue operation, including the possibility of the ship freeing itself during high tide, receiving aid from a nearby cruise vessel, assistance from Knud Rasmussen, or support from partner organizations.

Photo credit: Air Force/Arctic Command