The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the deaths and injuries of several American passengers on cruise ships that were sailing in or around Antarctica at the end of 2022. These fatal incidents onboard the World Explorer, MV Plancius, and Viking Polaris occurred between November 15 and December 1, 2022. Two of the deaths involved U.S. citizens.

Viking Polaris

One of the fatalities included in the investigation occurred in November when a rogue wave struck the Viking Polaris vessel as it made its way to Ushuaia, Argentina. One passenger lost her life while four others were injured. The passenger who died was a 62-year-old female American citizen. She was in her cabin when the wave hit, breaking through her cabin windows during a storm. The woman was struck by the glass window, which was blown into her cabin and struck her, killing her. Four other passengers sustained injuries and were treated onboard.

Due to the lack of hospital facilities in Antarctica, the vessel had to turn around and go back to Ushuaia in Argentina so that passengers could be properly treated. Currently, Norway has taken the lead in the investigation on this specific case.

Another incident occurring on the Viking Polaris involved an inflatable boat that sustained a keel-bladder failure when the boat was near Damoy Point, Antarctica on November 28. As a result, an American passenger suffered a serious leg injury, causing the boat to return to Argentina so that the injured passenger could receive medical attention and have surgery.  However, upon that return trip to Argentina, the boat was met with a rogue wave that struck the vessel at approximately 10:40 p.m., killing another American passenger. Just like with the other Viking Polaris investigation, Norway is also the lead country investigating the case.

World Explorer

Two fatalities involving U.S. citizens occurred after an inflatable boat from Quark Expeditions’ World Explorer ship capsized as the boat was close to Elephant Island, Antarctica. At the time, the boat was carrying six passengers. Portugal is the country leading the investigation with this case.

According to officials, at the time of the accident, the weather conditions were light winds. It is believed the accident was caused by a breaking wave, although officials are still investigating the exact cause.  

Oceanwide Expeditions

Another fatality was reported after a U.S. citizen lost his life while on board Oceanwide Expeditions’ Plancius vessel. Currently the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating this death along with Netherlands and Falkland Island officials. The incident involved an accidental fall on the ship, according to officials from Oceanwide Expeditions. They stated that the fall did not occur during any activity or during landing.  

As a result of these several incidents, the U.S. Coast Guard, and teams from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been sent to Argentina to investigate this string of incidents, specifically focusing on the ones that involved the death and injury of U.S. citizens on foreign-flagged passenger vessels sailing in Antarctic waters.

The Coast Guard and NTSB are helping with both the Viking Polaris and World Explorer investigations even though they are being led by foreign states in terms of the investigations. The U.S. will be considered a “substantially interested state in accordance with International Maritime Organization protocols and Coast Guard policy,” according to a statement issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.  

The Coast Guard and NTSB have sent their teams specifically to Ushuaia, Argentina, which is a common point of departure for most Antarctica expeditions. The hope with these investigations is they will be able to pinpoint exactly what caused the deaths and injuries and to determine what can be done to mitigate the risks of these types of incidents happening again. While many of them may not be able to completely be eliminated, especially when it comes to weather conditions causing accidents, certain protocols can be made or followed that will at least help reduce these risks.

The Coast Guard is also soliciting public input on these accidents. If the public has any information about these incidents, they are instructed to contact ACTEURInvestigations@uscg.mil. 

Do these incidents occur often?

Hearing about four frightening incidents involving cruise ships in the arctic can make it seem like traveling to Antarctica is more dangerous than it is worth. It is worth saying that certain hazards come along with cruise trips to visit Antarctica. These trips are not as calm and carefree as sailing off European coasts or sailing around the Caribbean Sea. However, people who purchase tickets to travel the Antarctica coast are usually aware of this fact. They are sailing into uncharted waters. Much of the allure behind going to Antarctica is the adventure and the risk of the unknown.

While injury and even death are risks of traveling these waters, they are still relatively rare occurrences. Statistically speaking, as more vessels travel to Antarctica, the likelihood of more accidents occurring increases, which could account for part of why more incidents are being reported.

Given the location of these voyages and the weather that accompanies them, the chances of rogue waves do increase near Antarctica. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rogue waves are twice the size of surrounding waves.  Rogue waves are often referred to as “extreme storm waves,” by scientists. Other common names for rogue waves include monster waves, freak waves, killer waves, and episodic waves. These waves measure twice the size of surrounding waves and often pop up unexpectedly from directions other than the prevailing wind and waves. The fact is they are large, unpredictable, and can be extremely dangerous. The fact they can cause such damage to large vessels, like major cruise ships, shows their strength and potential for devastation.

Cruise operators and tour guides do what they can to minimize the dangers that come along with artic voyages, and part of this is to advise travelers of all risks before going on these trips. Many of these travelers are already aware of these risks, but that still does not make them any less intimidating in real life when on the ship.

What to Know When Booking a Trip to Antarctica

If you are considering booking a trip to Antarctica, several tips should be kept in mind. The first of them being the fact that these trips take significantly longer time than your average cruise. It takes quite a long time for a vessel to sail to the southern end of the earth, so you should plan accordingly. On average, you need at least 14 to 18 days for a trip to our southernmost continent. It can take about 48 hours to sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the edge of Antarctica, and once you are to the continent, you will want to spend seven to 10 days exploring.

Most cruise ships offer around two land excursions daily, but these trips are not much in length. Because of the harsh conditions outside, you will only be spending around one to two hours maximum on land. The remainder of your time will be spent on the boat, which means your ship will essentially be your home. Make sure you choose this home wisely and do your research before choosing a vessel.

Most of these expeditions occur during the continent’s summer. This is because Antarctica is 98 percent ice. Even during summer months, temperatures barely hit above the freezing mark with summer average temperatures being between 30- and 35-degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, it is a misconception that people need to bring a large amount of arctic gear. Most vessels provide passengers with their own warm waterproof jacket, which is meant to be layered with a base layer and fleece, which should be enough to keep the guests warm for the one to two hours they are on an expedition. Most of the ships also provide guests with gear to keep their feet dry when climbing in and out of inflatable boats, including knee-high waterproof muck boots. Purchase basic gear but do not go overboard on preparing.

Lastly, plan for the unpredictable. Antarctic voyages tend to be more adventurous than your average cruise vacation. You are going into unsettled territory with unpredictable and severe weather conditions. Even if the captain has a plan for the day, the weather and ice can throw those plans into a complete tailspin. You can expect some uncertainty and unpredictability on these trips.  Plan for an adventure.

When tragic incidents such as these occur, the resulting damages can be devastating, including the loss of life, as was seen here. It is imperative that you have a strong legal advocate on your side to fight for your rights if you are injured while traveling on a cruise ship. These cruise companies have large legal teams on their sides, and you should never handle these legal matters alone.

The Miami-based cruise ship accident and maritime injury law firm of Delgado Trial Attorneys  possess a skill set that few other maritime attorneys can claim. Raul’s extensive experience representing the cruise lines and developing their defense strategies years before they started representing the passengers and crew members that suffered injuries because of the cruise lines’ negligence. Combined with Raul Delgado, Sr.’s  45 years of personal injury experience fighting on behalf of injured accident victims, Delgado Trial Attorneys offers a combination of experience in all types of cruise ship personal injuries unlike any of their competitors. Our experience allows us to effectively strategize and advocate for every client we represent. We have handled all types of cruise ship passenger accidents over the years with a focus on slip, trip and falls, medical malpractice, FlowRider accidents, sexual assaults, Death on the High Seas, and more. Contact our law firm today for a free case evaluation. Virtual sign-ups available. Visit https://cruiselawyermiami.com/ to learn more.

SOURCES:

Coast Guard investigating incidents involving 4 American deaths off Antarctica – Washington Times

Antarctica cruise casualties under investigation by Coast Guard (usatoday.com)

US Coast Guard Investigates Accidents During Antarctic Cruises (cruisehive.com)

Deaths, Injuries on Antarctica Cruises Prompt Military Investigation | TravelPulse