One other cruise ship has damaged freed from its mooring traces as sturdy winds triggered main issues for Holland America’s Westerdam whereas it was docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. A few of the ship’s passengers witnessed the dramatic incident of snapping mooring traces and a collapsed gangway.
What Occurred in Ketchikan
Westerdam was docked in Ketchikan as a cease in a 7-night Alaska itinerary when sudden and intense wind gusts started placing further pressure on the mooring traces.
Holland America ship Nieuw Amsterdam had beforehand canceled its go to to Ketchikan due to the excessive winds, however Westerdam felt it was protected sufficient to dock on Might 30, 2025.
Whereas official readings confirmed winds over 30 miles per hour, native studies within the Ketchikan Day by day Information quoted the cruise line’s spokesperson as saying gusts reached as much as 60 knots (almost 70 miles per hour).
A consumer on Cruise Critic famous the airport’s highest reported wind for Ketchikan was 32 knots (37 MPH) on the time, nevertheless it might have been a localized gust that swept via the port.
Eyewitnesses on board shared some fairly startling pictures and tales. The sheer power of the wind triggered a number of of the ship’s mooring traces to snap.
Fb web page “Anna and Joe’s Adventures” shared pictures of the aftermath of the incident as you’ll be able to see beneath:
Because the hole between the ship and the dock grew wider, the gangway merely disconnected and fell. The pictures present it wanting virtually like a vertical ladder. As consumer “NHDOC” on Cruise Critic put it, “In response to our crew there have been two ropes that broke which triggered the ship to float and the gangway fell.”
A Lucky End result and Fast Motion
Fortunately, nobody was on the gangway when it collapsed, and no accidents have been reported.
Tugboats instantly held Westerdam in opposition to the pier. Cranes then lifted the broken gangway.
Holland America Line confirmed the gangway was reconnected, and all company reboarded later that day. One passenger shared on Cruise Critic, “I used to be there for this, we have been lucky and received on about 5 minutes earlier than it broke. We felt terrible for individuals who have been ready to get again on.”
Itinerary Stays on Monitor
The Westerdam had began her journey in Seattle, Washington, on Might 25. She visited Juneau and Sitka, and cruised via Tracy Arm Fjord, earlier than Ketchikan. Regardless of the incident, the ship departed Ketchikan on schedule, heading to Victoria, British Columbia, then again to Seattle.
Different Ships Breaking from Mooring Traces
Simply final week, Cruise Fever reported on an identical state of affairs involving Norwegian Epic in Catania, Italy.
On Might 30, 2025, dramatic video confirmed a mooring publish snapping off and hitting Norwegian Epic as sturdy winds pushed the ship. This triggered the ship to interrupt free, injuring two passengers and delaying departure. Two passengers fell into the water and have been rescued, then hospitalized for minor accidents. Winds as much as 57 miles per hour performed a big position in that failure.
This previous weekend additionally noticed an MSC ship, MSC Seascape, expertise an identical mooring incident at Ocean Cay, the cruise line’s personal island. On Might 31, 2025, sturdy winds from a sudden squall triggered the ship’s mooring traces to snap, resulting in its bow drifting away from the pier and delaying visitors to and from the ship for a time.
Why Ships Skip Ports
Nobody desires to listen to that they must skip a port of name, particularly on a day that appears to be fairly pretty with just some sturdy winds. However a few of these gusts could cause main issues for cruise ships which are so massive they’ll act like large sails. Whether or not it’s attempting to dock safely or placing an excessive amount of pressure on mooring traces, cruise traces are very cautious to make these selections.
Not way back we reported on a number of ships that needed to skip stops at Costa Maya due to a number of days of sturdy gusts.
These incidents, like with Westerdam, Norwegian Epic, and MSC Seascape, are reminders of the explanation cruise traces will name off a go to to a port based mostly on wind. Folks will nonetheless complain, however not less than they are going to be protected.
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