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Success Stories: Coast Guard Evacuates 248 Cruise Ship Crew & Passengers

Objective: Build a Nimble, Effective Emergency Response System and a Culture of Preparedness

Situation   Action
  • May 14, 2007 at 12:35 AM: Cruise Ship Empress of the North sends an emergency radio message
  • Cruise Ship Empress of the North runs aground near Juneau, AK; ship is taking on water This real world emergency occurs during Alaska Shield Northern Edge 07, a DHS exercise involving simulated terrorist attacks, train derailments and errant Russian aircraft
 
  • US Coast Guard helicopters and ships as well as Good Samaritan vessels quickly respond and arrive on the scene to provide assistance
  • USCG leads effort to evacuate all passengers
  • Escorted by Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, essential crew members remain onboard the paddle wheel cruise ship, refloat her and return her to Juneau under her own power
Result    
  • All 248 cruise ship crew and passengers are evacuated from Empress of the North in less than four hours
  • The passengers then board the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Columbia for transport to Juneau
  • No passengers are injured as a result of incident
  • Successful evacuation: result of annual exercise involving state & local agencies and industry
    Coast Guard evacuates cruise ship
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Case# 0000020
05/30/2007

This page was last modified on September 7, 2007