Coast Guard Rescues Passengers from Damaged Cruise Ship

The 299 foot cruise ship Empress of the North ran aground 49 miles west of Juneau this morning.

Passengers from the Cruise Ship Empress of the North being offloaded onto the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty and civilian vessels. Photo: Petty Officer Chris Caskey

(JUNEAU, Alaska ) - The Coast Guard has successfully facilitated the evacuation of all 248 passengers from the Empress of the North and will be transferring them to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry vessel Columbia for transit back to Juneau.

Currently the Empress of the North is back underway under the escort of the CGC Liberty and is enroute to Juneau.

Passengers will be taken to the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal in Juneau.

Thirty-three crewmembers remain on board the Empress of the North.

The 299 foot cruise ship Empress of the North ran aground 49 miles west of Juneau near Hanus Reef in Lynn Canal, Alaska this morning at about 2:00 AM local Alaska time.