Tugs reach stricken cruise ship

A cruise ship hit by an engine fire was on the move today as Mexican tugboats began towing it towards California.

Nearly 4,500 passengers and crew on board the Carnival Splendor, low on food and without air conditioning or hot water, were having to eat canned crab meat and Spam dropped in by helicopters. And for two more days, they have no way out.

In a change of plan, the ship was expected to arrive in San Diego early on Friday, Irish time, Carnival Cruise Lines said.

What began as a seven-day cruise to the picturesque Mexican Riviera turned into a nightmare on Monday when an engine room fire cut power to the 952ft vessel and set it adrift off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

No-one was hurt and by yesterday, US Navy helicopters were ferrying 70,000lbs of supplies, including the crab meat, croissants, Pop Tarts, Spam and other items to the stricken ship.

The tugboats were originally set to take the Splendor to the Mexican coastal city of Ensenada, but the cruise line changed its plans and were attempting to have it towed to San Diego, where hotel and flight arrangements would await the passengers, Carnival said.

But if the process moved too slowly, the ship might still be taken to Ensenada, the company said.

US Coast Guard Petty Officer Kevin Metcalf said the tugs and a coastguard cutter escort would have to move slowly because the ship was so big.

Accidents like the engine room fire were rare, said Monty Mathisen of the New York-based publication Cruise Industry News.

The last major cruise accident was in 2007 when a ship with more than 1,500 people sank after hitting rocks near the Aegean island of Santorini, he said. Two French tourists died.

“This stuff does not happen,” Mr Mathisen said. “The ships have to be safe, if not the market will collapse.”

The Splendor, which left from Long Beach, California, on Sunday, was 200 miles south of San Diego at the time of the engine fire, according to Miami-based Carnival. It began drifting about 55 miles offshore.

The 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members were not hurt and the fire was put out in the generator’s compartment, but the ship had no air conditioning, hot water, mobile phone or internet service.

After the fire, passengers were first asked to move from their cabins to the ship’s upper deck, but eventually allowed to go back to their rooms. The ship’s auxiliary power allowed for toilets and cold running water.

Bottled water and cold food were provided, the company said.

The temperature in the area was 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius), and there were scattered clouds, according to the coastguard.

Yesterday US sailors loaded cargo planes with supplies for the stranded passengers. The coastguard deployed aircraft and ships and the Mexican Navy was also helping.

The US Navy diverted the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan from training manoeuvres to help.

The Splendor had only enough food until last night because refrigerators on the ship stopped working after the power was knocked out, US Navy Commander Greg Hicks said.

He said 50,000lbs of food had been delivered by last night.

The incident will be costly for Carnival, which is refunding passengers, offering vouchers for future cruises and may have to dry-dock the ship if the damage is extensive.

“We know this has been an extremely trying situation for our guests and we sincerely thank them for their patience,” Carnival president and chief executive Gerry Cahill said.

“Conditions on board the ship are very challenging and we sincerely apologise for the discomfort and inconvenience our guests are currently enduring.”