Norwegian Cruise Line Cleared in Wave Incident

Norwegian Cruise Line acted properly when its "Norwegian Dawn" was struck by a large wave on April 16, 2005 according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

After experiencing extremely rough weather, the ship was hit by an unpredictable, large wave near South Carolina on its return trip to New York from Miami during a Bahamas/Florida cruise.

One of the largest of NCL's 14 ships, the "Norwegian Dawn" was carrying 2,224 passengers and 1,112 crewmembers. The ship sails round-trip from New York to the Caribbean, year-round.

The NTSB said that the cruise line acted appropriately during the severe weather and tried to accommodate and comfort its passengers.

The report notes that: "Rather than attempting to maintain the scheduled arrival time in New York, the master decided to lower the ship's speed and change its heading for the passengers' comfort." Moreover, "the hotel staff tried to accommodate the passengers' needs and make them comfortable."

The report notes that the winds and seas experienced by the ship became "heavier-than-expected" and recognized the unpredictability of the incident by concluding that "the probable cause of the damage to "Norwegian Dawn" and of the injuries suffered by its passengers was waves breaking over the bow during the ship's unavoidable encounter with severe weather and heavy seas."

The full report can be found at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2005/MAB0503.htm .