Holland America cruise ships collide while attempting to parallel park
The internet has widely agreed that the "worst part of parallel parking is the witnesses." Now try multiplying that embarrassment with the knowledge that your vessel accommodates up to 1,964 guests.
A cruise ship struck another parked ship from the Holland America cruise line while attempting to dock at the Vancouver Port near Canada Place. While no injuries were reported, like most experiences that involve parallel parking, egos were presumably bruised.
On Saturday at 6:50 a.m., the Oosterdam struck the Nieuw Amsterdam ship, causing minor damage, including damage to six of the Nieuw Amsterdam's stateroom verandas, USA Today reports. More like Oopsterdam, right?
Cruise ship Oosterdam hits the Nieuw Amsterdam docking at Canada Place in @PortVancouver
Damage to both vessels @CKNW @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver
Somebody isn’t having a good day. pic.twitter.com/4r5jMLehw6— Ken Carrusca (@KenCarrusca) May 4, 2019
“All required repairs are well above the waterline, and the seaworthiness of both ships is not affected. All appropriate authorities have been notified," Holland America said in a statement.
Susan Carrusca, a guest onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam during the incident, told The Vancouver Sun that she felt the ships collide and heard crew members yelling "they hit us." According to Carrusca, passengers on board were told to evacuate, but then said the order was rescinded. Disembarkation on both ships proceeded as usual.
I was on the Oosterdam and we definitely heard it and felt it. It was a parallel parking job gone wrong!
— Denise (@d_pineau) May 4, 2019
A woman, Denise, claims she was on the Oosterdam when the accident happened, writing on Twitter, "It was a parallel parking job gone wrong!"
"I was on the Oosterdam... and our room was in the aft section of the ship, so we definitely felt and heard it. My husband jokingly said 'what did we hit,'“ she wrote. “Then I stepped out onto the veranda and the Port Authority was there and then I knew that something was up.”
The Nieuw Amsterdam has sustained most of the damage, sixstateroom verandahs are being repaired right now. The Oosterdam also has a few verandahs in need of repair as well. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/SwBFMDzq8W
— Taran Parmar (@Tarankparmar) May 4, 2019
The collision and resulting repairs did not affect the cruise ships' itinerary, however. The Oosterdam sailed at 4:45 p.m. overnight to Seattle on Sunday, while the Nieuw Amsterdam departed Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for a seven-day Alaska cruise.
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