UnCruise Adventures - a prominent small-ship travel brand, has officially confirmed a fire accident on the Wilderness Discoverer ship while navigating in Glacier Bay NP and close to Composite Island. The fire, which was limited to the engine room, took place on Sunday, June 5th, at 7:23 am Alaska time (15:23 UTC).
The ship was carrying a total of 78 people (51 passengers plus 27 crew) and contacted the USCG Sector Juneau at 7:30 am (3 pm UTC). No injuries were reported.
The well-trained crew promptly extinguished the flames using standard emergency protocols, ensuring everyone's safety by deploying CO2, stated Captain Dan Blanchard (the company's Owner & CEO).
As part of their commitment to environmental responsibility, thorough assessments have been conducted, indicating no noticeable negative effects on the environment in the affected area. The local and federal authorities have been notified promptly, and close collaboration is underway to handle the situation in a coordinated manner.
To facilitate the smooth transfer of passengers, Sapphire Princess immediately assisted in disembarking 51 passengers and 17 crew from Wilderness Discoverer, while 10 crew members remained on board.
The primary focus was on ensuring the safety of all affected guests during this transition, and every effort was made to minimize any inconveniences caused by the incident.
The company will be issuing full refunds to all affected by the incident tourists, as well as arranging hotels and flights for their return home. The company's staff is working closely with guests and local authorities to provide expedited care.
The cause of the engine room fire is yet to be determined, and an ongoing investigation is being conducted to establish the underlying reason.
At the time of the accident, Wilderness Discoverer was on a 7-day "Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise" roundtrip from Juneau.