Cruise Ship Stranded

Cruise Ship Stranded, (AFP) – Dozens of sailors stranded for weeks in Canada after their cruise ship was seized over unpaid debts have returned to Russia while the ship is to be sold, a Russian embassy official said Tuesday.

The Russian owner of the Lyubov Orlova is “frantically” looking for a buyer in order to avoid it being auctioned off by Canadian authorities at a cut rate to pay back a 250,000-dollar debt owed to a Canadian company that had chartered it, the official said.

The Lyubov Orlova’s 51 crew were stuck in Saint John’s, Newfoundland since September 25. Thirty-four of them returned home to Russia on Sunday.

Canadian media said the ship was sold to a Norwegian company, but neither the Russian embassy nor the Canadian charter company would confirm it. Regardless, the debts would have to be paid in full before it is released.

A lawyer for charter company Cruise North Expeditions, Isabelle Pillet, said the company had paid the ship’s owner in advance for summer adventure tours of northern Labrador, which did not occur.

The ship’s crew is also claiming four months of unpaid wages in a Canadian court. Those who remained aboard the docked ship stayed to upkeep the vessel.

Stranded Cruise Ship

Stranded Cruise Ship, What began Sunday as a luxurious cruise accommodation of 4,500 people has simply become a flotation device from 952 feet, without air conditioning, hot water or telephone service.

Passengers stranded 200 miles south of San Diego on the coast of Mexico are being towed to shore after the ship lost power on Monday when the engine room caught fire for unknown reasons. No one was injured in the fire. became auxiliary power Monday night to allow a stream of cold water.

A tug towing Mexico has slowly begun Carnival Splendor to Ensenada, Mexico, where 80 buses an escort for Americans across the border. It is likely that two tugs eventually help in the effort.

The cruise departed from Long Beach, in what is supposed to be a seven-day trip. Carnival Splendor place should reach the coast sometime last week. The boat will travel 132 miles nautical less than ideal conditions, with strong winds and waves.

Meanwhile, the crew is to provide passengers with snacks, cold drinks and entertainment. “There are activities for children, quizzes and musical performances and answers provided by our artists,” Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen Cruise Lines reportedly told The Union-Tribune.

The cruise has been in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, which alerted the Navy of Mexico and the U.S. Navy, including aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to send thousands of kilos of supplies and food purchased by cruise line passengers.

Carnival Splendor restitution to all guests.

Cruise Ship Fire

Cruise Ship Fire, (AFP) – An engine room fire has left a cruise ship carrying nearly 4,500 people stranded with minimal power in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico, the operator said Tuesday.

Tugboats were heading towards the “Carnival Splendor,” some 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of San Diego after the fire early Monday, said Carnival Cruise Lines, adding that passengers had no air conditioning or hot food.

“The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to restore additional power to the vessel,” it said.

“Conditions on board the ship are very challenging and we sincerely apologize for the discomfort and inconvenience our guests are currently enduring,” added company president Gerry Cahill.

The fire erupted in the aft engine room around 6:00 am Monday (1400 GMT), and was extinguished with no injuries to guests or crew — but the ship, carrying 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew, was left without key services.

“Currently several key hotel systems, including air conditioning, hot food service, and telephones are not available.

“Last night, the ship? S engineers were able to restore toilet service to all cabins and public bathrooms, as well as cold running water. The ship? S crew continues to actively work to restore other services,” it said.

It added that tugs were expected to reach the ship around midday (2000 GMT) on Tuesday to tow it to Ensenada, Mexico “in an effort to get the guests home as quickly as possible.”

The 113,000-ton ship, which first entered service in July 2008, was on a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise which started Sunday in Long Beach, California.

The US Navy announced that the USS Ronald Reagan had been diverted to help the stricken cruise liner at the request of the US Coast Guard.

Carnival Splendor Fire

Carnival Splendor Fire, (AP) — Tugboats are headed out to sea to tow in a cruise ship that lost power off California after an engine room fire.

The 952-foot cruise ship Carnival Splendor is about 55 miles off the northern Baja coast and tugboats will take it to the Mexican port of Ensenada.

Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines says the ship, on a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera, has auxiliary power, but air conditioning, hot food service, hot water and telephones were knocked out. The cruise line says toilets and cold water were restored overnight.

None of the nearly 4,500 passengers and crew members were hurt.

Carnival says the tugboats are expected to arrive at midday Tuesday.

The fire started Monday while the ship was about 150 miles south of San Diego.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A cruise ship that’s been adrift since an engine room fire as it headed for Mexico is awaiting the arrival of two boats that will tow it back to shore.

Speaking by phone Tuesday from a cutter that arrived on scene off the northern Baja coast, Coast Guard Lt. Khris Johns told NBC’s “Today” show it will take about 24 hours to tow the 952-foot-long Carnival Cruise Lines ship to port.

Johns says food and provisions are available to people onboard. And while the ship has lost propulsion, Johns says the ship is running on an alternate generator that’s powering basic services such as sewage and navigation equipment.

According to Carnival Cruise Lines, the blaze on the Carnival Splendor broke out Monday. The ship is carrying 3,299 guests and 1,167 crew members. No one was hurt.

(This version CORRECTS with updated Carnival statement saying tugboats still en route to ship and arriving midday.)