Around 90 Aussies stranded on Ocean Explorer cruise ship in Greenland Arctic
About 90 Australians are stranded on the Ocean Explorer cruise ship in the Greenland Arctic
- Australians board a stranded ship in remote Greenland
- Help may not arrive until Friday at the earliest
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Nearly 100 Australians on the trip of a lifetime have been stranded in a remote national park in northwestern Greenland after their luxury cruise ship ran aground.
More than 200 passengers and crew are on board the Ocean Explorer ship that ran aground in the Alpe Fjord, in Northeast Greenland National Park, on Monday.
About 90 Australians are on board the 104.4-metre Norwegian ship, the ship’s Sydney-based cruise line Aurora Expeditions confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.
The nearest Danish naval vessel is more than 2,220 km (1,200 nautical miles) away and is on its way to the site, but is unlikely to reach the grounded ship until Friday.
Authorities have assured that everyone on board is safe and that there is no damage to the ship.
90 Aussies are aboard the Ocean Explorer (pictured on Tuesday) which is grounded in remote Greenland
The Ocean Explorer remains aground in the Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park
“All passengers, expedition team and crew on board are safe and sound. It is important that there is no immediate danger to themselves, the ship or the environment,” said a spokeswoman for Aurora Expeditions.
‘We are actively involved in efforts to free the MV Ocean Explorer from its grounding. Our main commitment is to ensure the recovery of the ship without compromising safety.
“We have also secured the support of other ships in the area should their assistance be required.
“As we continue to gather more information and progress in our efforts, we will provide further updates.”
The cruise ship has now been on the ground for more than 36 hours.
Danish authorities confirmed in their latest update on Wednesday that the ship remains grounded in the national park.
The Joint Arctic Command also released photos of the grounded ship taken from Flyvevåbnet’s Challenger aircraft.
The first attempt to refloat the ship at high tide failed.
“The tide, which rose during the day, local time, did not provide the necessary assistance to continue sailing,” the Joint Arctic Command said.
“Arctic Command continues to be in contact with relevant vessels in the area that may have the opportunity to help free the cruise ship.
The Joint Arctic Command remains in contact with the grounded ocean liner. Pictured is an aerial photo of the stranded ship
“There are still no reports that human lives or the environment are in immediate danger, and Arctic Command is closely monitoring the situation.
Joint Commander of the Arctic Command Brian Jensen added: “A cruise ship in difficulty in the national park is obviously concerning.”
“The nearest help is far away, our units are far away and the weather can be very unfavorable.”
Northeast Greenland National Park is the world’s largest and northernmost national park, known for the icebergs and musk oxen that roam its coast.
Completed in 2021, the Ocean Explorer will accommodate up to 134 passengers and offer trips to “some of the world’s wildest and remote destinations,” according to Aurora Expeditions’ website.
The ship ran aground on Monday local time in the Alpefjord in the Northeast Greenland National Park