Ocean
Explorer,
one
of
the
small
expedition
cruise
ships
designed
to
reach
some
of
the
most
remote
areas
of
the
globe,
grounded
on
Monday,
11
September,
in
a
remote
part
of
Greenland.
The
cruise
ship
is
reportedly
not
in
imminent
danger
while
the
Danish
Navy-led
Arctic
Command
coordinates
with
the
Icelandic
Coastguard
and
other
partners
to
develop
a
rescue
plan.
The
104-metre
(343ft)
long
and
18-metre-wide
Ocean
Explorer
ran
aground
on
Monday
in
Alpefjord
in
the
Northeast
Greenland
National
Park.
It
is
the
world’s
largest
and
most
northerly
national
park
known
for
icebergs
and
the
musk
oxen
that
roam
the
coast.
Commander
Brian
Jensen
of
Denmark’s
Joint
Arctic
Command
said
that
nobody
on
board
was
in
danger
and
that
no
damage
had
been
reported
but
added
that
officials
“take
this
incident
very
seriously”.
“Our
units
are
far
away,
and
the
weather
can
be
very
unfavourable,”
he
said
in
a
statement.
The
closest
Danish
navy
ship
was
about
1,200
nautical
miles
(1,380
miles
or
2,200km)
away,
he
said,
adding
it
was
heading
to
the
site
and
could
be
expected
at
the
grounded
ship
as
soon
as
Friday
with
the
command
noting
that
this
depends
on
the
weather.
According
to
reports,
the
area
where
the
cruise
ship
ran
aground
is
poorly
charted.
“As
soon
as
we
realised
that
the
Ocean
Explorer
could
not
free
itself,
we
dispatched
a
ship,”
said
Commander
Brian
Jensen.
Tuesday,
the
command
performed
an
overflight
to
assess
the
situation
of
the
cruise
ship,
and
they
have
already
requested
another
cruise
ship
in
the
same
general
area
to
remain
in
the
area
“should
the
situation
evolve.”
The
Danes
are
also
consulting
with
the
Icelandic
Coast
Guard
to
ascertain
if
they
have
a
vessel
that
could
reach
the
cruise
ship
in
the
vicinity.
The
Danish
Joint
Arctic
Command
report
reported
206
passengers
on
board,
of
which
90
are
Australians.
“A
cruise
ship
in
distress
in
a
national
park
is
concerning,”
said
Jensen.
“It
is
a
long
distance
to
provide
immediate
help;
our
units
are
far
away,
and
the
weather
may
not
be
favourable.”
The
Arctic
Command
reported
that
the
cruise
ship
could
not
extricate
itself
during
the
previous
high
tide,
but
it
was
still
a
possibility
it
could
do
so.
Another
ship
in
the
vicinity
may
also
be
able
to
assist
the
Ocean
Explorer.
