Coast Guard Suspends Search For 1, Carnival Triumph Moors Safely

MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing shipyard employee after a cruise ship broke loose from a pier on the Mobile River, Wednesday.

Coast Guard and Mobile Police and Sheriff's Office search-and-rescue crews searched for approximately 15 hours with more than 15 boats and aircraft in an effort to locate the missing BAE Systems employee.

The tug vessel New Wednesday and four additional tugs guided the Carnival Triumph safely back to a pier at the Alabama Cruise Ship Terminal to resume repairs.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 1:45 p.m. that a BAE Systems employee became missing after the Carnival Triumph broke free from its moorings while at the pier at the BAE shipyard. The missing employee was reported as a 64-year-old male. One other BAE employee was recovered safely.

Joint Coast Guard and Mobile Police and Sheriff's Office first responder crews searched a three square-mile area near the mouth of the Mobile River with the following resources:

One Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew;

Two Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island boatcrews;

Two Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile boatcrews;

Alabama Marine Resources;

Three Mobile County Sheriff's Office flotillas;

Two Mobile Police Department boatcrews;

One Mobile Police helicopter;

Four tug boats.

"This is a truly tragic case that occurred due to severe weather. It is always extremely difficult to suspend a search when a person is still missing," said Capt. Ed Cubanski, chief of response, 8th Coast Guard District. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time. Fifteen different boat and aircrews completed multiple search patterns covering the confined area near the pier and did not locate the missing person."

The search is suspended pending further developments.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

Carnival Triumph: Photo Update

The Carnival Triumph and the motor vessel Wheeler moor at the Signal International shipyard after the two vessels collided on the Mobile River, April 3, 2013. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Carnival Triumph breaks loose from the dry dock of Pier J at BAE Systems on the Mobile River, April 3, 2013. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

A tug vessel pushes the Carnival Triumph to moor at the Signal International shipyard on the Mobile River, April 3, 2013. The cruise ship broke loose from a BAE Systems dry dock after strong winds from a storm. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Carnival Triumph Set Adrift, Shipyard Worker Missing!

MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard is searching for a missing shipyard employee and responding to a report of a cruise ship adrift on the Mobile River, Wednesday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 1:45 p.m. that a BAE Systems employee became missing after the Carnival Triumph broke free from its moorings while in dry dock at the BAE shipyard. The missing employee is reported as a black male in his 40s and reportedly not wearing a life jacket. One other BAE employee was recovered safely. The ship is reportedly at the Signal International shipyard across from BAE.

The tug vessel New Wednesday is on scene stabilizing the Triumph, and four additional tug vessels are en route to assist with stabilization operations.

The Coast Guard has issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast for mariners to keep a look out for the missing BAE  employee on the Mobile River.

Resources deployed in the search:

One Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew;

Two Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island boatcrews;

Two Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile boatcrewa;

Two Mobile Police Department boatcrews;

One Mobile Police helicopter.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB Launch Investigation On The Carnival Triumph Engine Fire.

Coast Guard investigators from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center and the Investigations Center of Expertise examine the cruise ship Carnival Triumph's engine room, Feb. 14, 2013, to determine the cause of a fire that broke out Feb. 10 and stranded the ship with its passengers for days in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of the joint international investigation may take months, but could possibly help prevent the same type of incident from happening in the future. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Jerry Federer)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation Tuesday into the circumstances surrounding a fire aboard the Carnival Triumph, that occurred Sunday.

The Carnival Triumph experienced an engine room fire while on a four-day cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, and has been without propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico since.  The ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was extinguished. No injuries to guests or crew members were reported in connection to the fire.

The ship arrived in Mobile, Ala., Thursday evening.

Because the Carnival Triumph is a Bahamian flagged vessel, the Bahamas Maritime Authority is the primary investigative agency. In accordance with international guidelines, the U.S. will participate in this investigation as a Marine Safety Investigative State.

Coast Guard members from both the Investigations and Cruise Ship Centers of Expertise, along with a representative from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center will lead the U.S. investigation joined by a team of five investigators from the NTSB Office of Marine Safety and the Office of Research and Engineering. The purpose of the investigation is to identify causal and contributing factors that led to the incident. Additionally both the crew response and effectiveness of fire fighting systems will be evaluated to help prevent future incidents.

The U.S. team is expected to arrive in Mobile Wednesday. Results of the investigation will be released to the public once the investigation by the Bahamas Maritime Authority is complete.

Carnival Triumph Arrives in Mobile, Alabama

Coast Guard completes escort of Carnival Triumph
MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard escorted the disabled Carnival Triumph to the Alabama Cruise Ship Terminal in Mobile Thursday evening.

The tug vessel Roland Falgout and four assist tugs towed the Triumph to the Alabama Cruise Terminal following more than a 100-hour voyage from Cozumel, Mexico to Mobile.

Resources used to assist the Triumph:

The 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous and crew, homeported in Cape May, N.J.;

Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60T crew;

The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Stingray crew;

Three Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crews;

One Coast Guard Station Pascagoula boatcrew;

Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team.

The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous arrived on scene Sunday night and safely medevaced one passenger to the Carnival Legend. Cutter Vigorous began escorting the Triumph once the contracted tugs arrived and began towing it toward Mobile.

The Coast Guard worked closely with federal, state and local partners to effect the safe return of the Carnival Triumph and its crew and passengers. Through a collaborative effort, the Coast Guard and its port partners transferred critical engineering equipment, assisted CBP with the disembarkation process, enforced a security zone and assisted with the medevac of one additional passenger.

The Flag Administration of the Bahamas will be leading the investigation into the incident with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.

Coast Guard medevaced a female passenger from the disabled Carnival Triumph

MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard  medevaced a female passenger from the disabled Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday afternoon.

A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew medevaced a female passenger who reportedly suffered a stroke and transported her to Dauphin Island to meet emergency medical services.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. the tug vessel Resolve Pioneer reported a broken tow line. The tug Roland Falgout has restored the tow.

Coast Guard boarding teams assisted CBP agents with passport verification and disembarkation processing.

A Coast Guard MH-60T aircrew successfully delivered 3,000 pounds of equipment, which included a generator and electrical cables, from the offshore supply vessel Lana Rose to the Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph Wednesday afternoon.

At 3 p.m. the Triumph was six miles south of the entrance of Mobile Bay. The ship is expected to arrive at the Port of Mobile Thursday evening.

A 500-yard security zone has been established for the Triumph and the five tugs towing the cruise ship.

Coast Guard resources for the escort are:

Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60T crew;

The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and crew;

Two Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot RB-M crews;

Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection 33-foot Safe Boat and crews;

Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team.

The Coast Guard stands ready to render any assistance necessary to ensure the safety of the passesngers and crew of the Triumph.

The Triumph reported a fire in the aft engine room Sunday morning, which was extinguished by the ships fire control system.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

The Flag Administration of the Bahamas will be leading the investigation into the cause of the incident with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Carnival Cruise Lines has established a customer service number at 1-888-290-5095 for more information.

Coast Guard Delivers Generator To Carnival Triumph

MH-60 helicopter crew transported approximately 3,000 pounds of equipment.  Photo by Dveking

NEW ORLEANS — A Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60 helicopter crew transported approximately 3,000 pounds of equipment, which included a generator and electrical cables, from the offshore supply vessel Lana Rose to the Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph Wednesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico.

The generator will be used to help provide additional power to the cruise ship.

The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous arrived on scene Sunday night and began escorting the Triumph Monday night. The contracted tugs then began towing it toward Mobile, Ala. The Coast Guard will escort the vessel safely into port.

The ship’s last known location was approximately 108 nautical miles south of the Port of Mobile Wednesday afternoon.

The Triumph reported a fire in the aft engine room Sunday morning, which was extinguished by the ships fire control system. No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard stands ready to render any assistance necessary to assure the safety of the passesngers and crew of the Triumph.

Carnival Triumph under tow in the gulf of Mexico.

Carnival Cruise Lines has established a customer service number at 1-888-290-5095 for more information.

Carnival Statement About Disabled Carnival Triumpth

Photo by Yankeesman312

    The Carnival Triumph, while on a four-day cruise that departed Galveston last Thursday, experienced an engine room fire on Sunday morning and has been without propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico since that time. The ship's automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was successfully extinguished. Fortunately, there were no injuries to guests or crew members.
    Earlier this evening, the first of two tugboats arrived and is tied up to the ship with the second expected in the early hours of Tuesday morning. We had originally planned to tow the ship to Progreso, Mexico, the closest port to the ship's location early Sunday. Since that time, the ship has drifted about 90 miles north due to strong currents. This now puts the ship nearly equidistant to Mobile, Alabama and given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them. We now expect to arrive in Mobile sometime on Thursday, roughly the same time the ship would have arrived in Progreso given the distance the ship has traveled. From there, we will provide the necessary transportation to get our guests home. Mobile also provides simpler re-entry, particularly for the 900 guests onboard traveling without passports.
    We have maintained constant contact with the ship's officers. All of our guests are safe, and we're doing everything we can to make them as comfortable as possible. The ship has maintained emergency generator power since the fire occurred and the technical team on board has been successful in gradually restoring auxiliary power to operate some basic hotel functions. Currently, public and cabin toilets are operational in certain sections of the ship, power has been restored to a limited number of elevators, and some power in the Lido dining area is providing for hot coffee and limited hot food service.
    All guests on the current Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full refund for the cruise, along with transportation expenses. In addition, they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges.
We're terribly sorry for the inconvenience, discomfort, and frustration our guests are feeling. We know they expected a fantastic vacation, and clearly that is not what they received. Our shipboard and shore side teams are working around the clock to care for our guests and get them home safely.

Coast Guard Escorts Disabled Carnival Triumph Cruise Ship

The tugs Resolve Pioneer and Dabhol tow and steer the 893-foot Carnival Triumph cruise ship Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2013, in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship is enroute to Mobile, Ala., after an engine room fire a few days prior. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Chris Shivock.

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous began escorting the Carnival Triumph cruise ship Monday night after tugs began towing it toward Mobile, Ala., which is approximately 270 miles north.

The Triumph reported a fire in the aft engine room Sunday morning, which was extinguished by the ships fire control system. No injuries were reported.

The ship continues to operate on backup generators.

Carnival Cruise Lines has established a customer service number at 1-888-290-5095 for more information.

Fire Onboard Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph

Photo of the Carnival Triumph by Scott L.

New Orleans — The Coast Guard is maintaining communication with a cruise ship that has lost main propulsion and is dead in the water approximately 136 miles north of Merida, Mexico Sunday.

The Carnival cruise ship Triumph reported a fire in the aft engine room. Cruise ship personnel isolated and extinguished the engine room fire.  No injuries have been reported.
The ship is operating on emergency power and is receiving supplies from another cruise ship on scene. Tug boats have been dispatched to assist the disabled ship.

The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous has been diverted to provide assistance if needed and is scheduled to arrive early Monday morning.

Carnival Cruise Lines has established a customer service number at 1-888-290-5095 for more information.