Two Holland America Line cruise ships collided today, May 4, at Canada Place in Port Vancouver, Canada. According to reports, the cruise ship ms Oosterdam hit the Nieuw Amsterdam during a docking maneuver. The allision happen stern to stern when Oosterdam was backing in while the Nieuw Amsterdam was already stationed at the dock.
One passenger sailing on Nieuw Amsterdam says her stateroom was evacuated after the ship sustained damage to the aft side where part of the deck 4 verandas were damaged. Another passenger reports that after the incident the Captain suddenly came on saying all passengers to evacuate the stern.
Ken Carrusca posted the following twit saying that there was damage to both Holland America Line vessels.
Cruise ship Oosterdam hits the Nieuw Amsterdam docking at Canada Place in @PortVancouver
Damage to both vessels @CKNW @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver
Somebody isn’t having a good day. pic.twitter.com/4r5jMLehw6
— Ken Carrusca (@KenCarrusca) May 4, 2019
Luckily the ships sustained minor damage and there are no reported injuries among the passengers or crew.
“Oosterdam only has scratches, less then we got going through the Panama Canal. It appears to just be guard railing and glass on 3 and one panel of glass on forth. Aft ladder didn’t fair so well though.” says one passenger for Crew Center. The passenger also sent us the following photo, showing the damage on ms Oosterdam.
As for now, there is no update if the two HAL ships will depart Port Vancouver as scheduled.
Two months ago a similar accident was reported at the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, when two MSC Cruises sister ships collided. The allision happen when the cruise ship MSC Orchestra lost control while maneuvering in the port and started drifting towards MSC Poesia which was moored at the dock.
