Cruise Talk: "Mona Lisa" aground

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » "Mona Lisa" aground (Page 1)

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Author

Topic: "Mona Lisa" aground

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-04-2008 06:33 AM

Hello everybody,

according to Swedish media reports, "Mona Lisa" (ex "Kungsholm") has run aground in the Irben Strait, Latvia.

There are currently no reports as far as possible damage to the vessel is concerned.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Anders
First Class Passenger
Member # 6373

posted 05-04-2008 07:15 AM

According to a Finnish newspaper, MONA LISA is agrond in the Irben Sound, off the coast of Latvia, on her way between\ Riga and Tallinn. She is currently stuck on a sandbar and damage is currently being assessed before an attempt will be made to free her.

There are 984 passengers on board, all of which are safe.

See link:
MONA LISA news item

Posts: 258 | From: Oslo, Norway | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 05-04-2008 07:18 AM

Fingers crossed it is a rock free sandbar and a mere hiccup in her cruise.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 05-04-2008 07:22 AM

It's hard to believe there are over 900 pax a/b. That's more than double the number that SAL carried. Many cabins must have been added. How many did P&O carry? This is a sad happening. Let's hope the damage is minimal or non-existent.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Anders
First Class Passenger
Member # 6373

posted 05-04-2008 08:02 AM

Perhaps the newspaper got it wrong and there are 984 passengers and crew in total... I don't know.

She also went aground in Spitsbergen in July 2003 and sustained damage to a propeller.

Posts: 258 | From: Oslo, Norway | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

gaz hants
First Class Passenger
Member # 5749

posted 05-04-2008 08:17 AM

probably easier to list ports she hasn't run aground in, so cross out venice then.

Posts: 273 | From: hythe southampton uk | Registered: Jun 2005 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 05-04-2008 10:05 AM

HERE IS THE STORY OFF CNN...

RIGA, Latvia (AP) -- The cruise ship Mona Lisa with 984 people on board ran aground early Sunday in the Baltic Sea, off the northwest coast of Latvia, the coast guard said.

Coast guard spokeswoman Liene Ulbina said all the passengers were safe and they were not at immediate risk. Most are German, she said.

Air force and border guards were on standby, but there were no signs of damage to the Bahamas-registered vessel, which was stranded in the Irbe strait outside Riga, a Latvian Coast Guard Service statement said.

Ulbina said coast guard ships had arrived at the scene, but it remained unclear whether they would attempt to evacuate the passengers or try to pull the ship off the ground.

The coast guard said the crew had been inspecting the ship and had not found any signs of damage or oil tank leaks. E-mail to a friend

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-04-2008 02:01 PM

NAL,

the number of people onboard includes her crew.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 05-04-2008 09:43 PM

Thank you, Raoul. That makes more sense...pax and crew. Let's all wish her the best.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 05-05-2008 01:43 AM

No more word on her status?

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

greybeard
First Class Passenger
Member # 5284

posted 05-05-2008 04:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by DAMBROSI:
No more word on her status?

Google News lists 321 articles about the Mona Lisa running aground. The most recent is this one

CNN report

Passengers have not been evacuated, but tugs are still struggling to free the vessel.

Posts: 587 | From: London | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Johan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4458

posted 05-05-2008 05:55 AM

According to the "De Standaard" website, the passengers will evacuate the ship. The Captain has made this decision after advoce of th Latvian coast Guard. A foruth tug failed to tow the ship free.

Posts: 1895 | From: Antwerpen, Belgium | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

greybeard
First Class Passenger
Member # 5284

posted 05-05-2008 06:25 AM

A fourth tug has failed to shift the Mona Lisa, and passengers are to be evacuated, according to the latest

BBC report

Posts: 587 | From: London | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-05-2008 07:36 AM

Oh dear, Mr. Fervers continues to have bad luck, again.

Best,

Raoul

[ 05-05-2008: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 05-05-2008 07:43 AM

Evidentally she was going full speed when she hit the sandbank so it will not be easy to get her off. There is no explaination as yet as to why she hit. They have already tried 3 tugs, then they pumped out most of her water and tried again with 4 tugs and this also failed. They are now pumping out her fuel and removing all pax and some crew and will have another go, lets hope that works or they may end up restoring her to her former glory in place !

A first though - she is not described in any the reports I have seen as being a LUXURY cruise ship !

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

gaz hants
First Class Passenger
Member # 5749

posted 05-05-2008 08:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mike sa:
A first though - she is not described in any the reports I have seen as being a LUXURY cruise ship !

oh dear, cnn have her as a 'luxury' ship
on the plus side, it's a gorgeous picture and conveniently shows some sort of navigation mark as a subtle hint

Posts: 273 | From: hythe southampton uk | Registered: Jun 2005 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-05-2008 09:19 AM

Mike,

Mr. Fervers, the owner of Lord Nelson Seereisen, is onboard and has reportedly told German media that a navigational error is likely to be the cause.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

buddhaJoe
First Class Passenger
Member # 4356

posted 05-05-2008 09:28 AM

yeah i don't think the sandbank made an unexpected move...

Posts: 366 | From: De Goorn, small village in The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 05-05-2008 11:17 AM

Email Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES

A report on one of the european websites said that the ship had moved nearer to the coast to enable passengers to take pictures of a light house.

Sounds as if someone forgot the ships deep draft or did not have the depth recorder running.

Neil ( Bob )

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 05-06-2008 01:09 AM

It seems they are evacuating most of the crew as well, if so they must think that either she is likely to be where she is for quite some time or that the damage will ensure she is out of service for repairs for a good time. If so given there is a limited period of service left for her the owners may decide it is not economical to effect repairs at all and withdraw her from service totally.

Personally I am still very skeptical about the Swedish plan to convert her to a hotel, I do hope her time is not coming sooner than we had thought.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

thundergod
First Class Passenger
Member # 5619

posted 05-06-2008 02:48 AM

Swedish news today says that all pax is evacuated, but 320 crew will stay onboard (Almost all?). I dont think she will be out of service for a long time, as inspections both in ship and by divers show no damage to the hull.

Posts: 138 | From: Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

aggablinky
First Class Passenger
Member # 6402

posted 05-06-2008 05:20 AM

Didn`t she just recently come out of drydocking?
I shudder to think of that nice new coat of paint being damaged, amongst other things

Posts: 55 | From: hobart | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-06-2008 12:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by aggablinky:
Didn`t she just recently come out of drydocking?

Yes, a week ago.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 05-07-2008 11:04 AM

Is she still stick in the mud ?

The longer she is there the more difficult it will become to get her off as she will settle more deeply in every time the tide changes and suction will then build up.

She could perhaps become a new Latvian landmark ?

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 05-07-2008 11:24 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mike sa:
Is she still stick in the mud ?
The longer she is there the more difficult it will become to get her off as she will settle more deeply in every time the tide changes and suction will then build up.
She could perhaps become a new Latvian landmark ?

It looks like they were able to free her earlier today. I took five tugs. See here. She is being towed to the port of Ventspils.

It also looks like the Latvian government will not let the ship leave until the costs of the recovery are paid. More Here

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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