National Transportation Safety Board

Grounding of U.s. Passenger Vessel Empress of the North, Intersection of Lynn Canal and Icy Strait, Southeast Alaska, May 14, 2007 (Marine Accident Report Ntsb / Mar-08/02) National Transportation Safety Board

This report discusses the May 14, 2007 accident in which the passenger vessel Empress of the North grounded on Rocky Island. The vessel was carrying 206 passengers and 75 crew members on a cruise through Alaska's Inland Passage. The junior third mate, a newly licensed officer, was on his first navigation watch at the time of the accident. The NTSB identified safety issues and made recommendations to the U. S. state and federal maritime academies and to the Passenger Vessel Association. Earlier recommendations were made to the Coast Guard.