Nieuw-Amsterdam

The High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia was informed ton MArch 5, 2026, at 5:50 a.m. of a fire aboard the 'Nieuws Amsterdam' carrying 2,866 people, while it was sailing approximately one hour off the coast of Moorea. The JRCC Tahiti and the Crisis Management Team (EGC) were mobilised following the activation of the maritime emergency response plan (ORSEC). The High Commission's command post was activated under the authority of the High Commissioner of the Republic to organise the response in conjunction with the crew and coordinate all operations. In order to carry out all necessary checks to ensure the safety of the ship, passengers, and crew, a Dauphin helicopter was deployed to deploy a four-person assessment and intervention team on board. This assessment has eliminated any doubts regarding the fire, confirming with thermal imaging that no hot spots remained on the vessel, that all passengers and crew members were unharmed and safe, and that the was is capable of safely continuing its voyage to the port of Papeete.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority wants crew working in the engine room of a cruise ship to be trained in the use of steam systems, based on an investigation report of the Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (OVV) into the explosion in the engine room of the 'Nieuw Amsterdam' on March 22, 2025, in which two crew members died, when an expansion joint in a main steam line ruptured. The engine room was filled with steam exceeding 100°C within 86 seconds. Inhaling the hot steam affected their lung function, with fatal consequences. The system was never completely shut down, even when not in use. This situation was not considered in the original design, nor in subsequent modifications. The crew as a whole was unaware of the need to keep the steam line cooling valves open. The Dutch Safety Board investigation revealed a discrepancy between the system's design and its actual use. The crew was not trained or educated about the origins and hazards. The authority will therefore investigate whether they can provide training to engine room personnel on cruise ships. There were many lessons to be learned from the way seafarers apply their experience and knowledge. The gap between design and practice must be closed. Moreover, the authority pointed out that not all accidents can be prevented, as working procedures, risk analyses, and training materials do not always fully reflect the reality on board. The shipping company's current internal training courses on the steam system were , incidentally, fully in line with international laws and regulations. These laws and regulations should pay more attention to the risk of steam hammer in a steam system, for safer working methods, the researchers stated in their conclusion. The Dutch Safety Board recommendeds that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management request the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), so that the risks of steam systems are addressed in crew training.

Authorities from the Netherlands were sent to the Bahamas to investigate the fatal accident on board the 'Nieuw Amsterdam', which left two crew members dead. The ship warranted a response from the Dutch Safety Board (OVV). The incident happened on MArch 22 at about 9:20 a.m. LTat Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, roughly 80 minutes after the ship was scheduled to arrive at the private island. The Dutch Safety Board is obliged to investigate this accident on the basis of international laws and regulations. With the investigation, the Dutch Safety Board wants to find out what exactly happened and what lessons can be learned from the accident. Both Holland America Line and the OVV confirmed the deaths of the two sailors. The employees killed were the third engineer Joseph Terrado and Wawan Gusnawan.

Two crew members of the 'Nieuw Amsterdam' died when the ship was in the harbour of Half Moon Cay, a private island of the Holland-America Line in the Bahamas. on March 22, 2024. The accident happened in the engine room when Joseph Terrado, the third engineer and Wawan Gusnawan, a wiper. were installing filters, and a steam compensator exploded and flooded the engine room with steam. The two crew members tried to escape but couldn’t make it as the exit doors were hydraulically shut due to the activation of an emergency alarm and evacuation system. The two crew members apparently died due to lack of oxygen and intense heat. Their bodies were recovered near the closed water tight door. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has launched an inquiry to unravel the circumstances leading to the fatalities. Holland America Line has also announced full cooperation with the ongoing investigation, emphasizing their commitment to the safety, security, and welfare of all on board. Nieuw Amsterdam had departed from Fort Lauderdale on March 16 for a seven-night journey and was at HAL’s private Bahamian destination, Half Moon Cay when the incident occurred at 9AM on Friday march 22nd. HAL has issued condolences and provided counseling to affected crew members. The company has not shared much information about the accident and further details are awaited.The police was investigating the exact cause of death of the two. The 'Nieuw Amsterdam' had departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the ship's home port, on March 16, 2024, on an eight-day cruise.

A US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the medical evacuation of a passenger from the 'Nieuw Amsterdam' in the afternoon of Jan 15, 2024, approximately 100 nautical miles north of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. A woman, 81, U.S. citizen, who had suffered an open fracture injury in her left ankle, required a higher level of medical care ashore. Coast Guard watchstanders in the Sector San Juan received a call the previous night, requesting medevac assistance, as the cruise ship was transiting approximately 100 miles north of Turks and Caicos. They coordinated medevac arrangements and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to rendezvous with the cruise ship the following afternoon. Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the ship, who prepared the patient for a litter hoist and ensured she was safely hoisted aboard the aircraft. A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft also arrived on-scene in support of the medevac. The helicopter transported the patient to the Air Station Borinquen, where awaiting local Emergency Medical Service personnel received and transported her to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3646543/coast-guard-medevacs-us-citizen-passenger-from-ms-nieuw-amsterdam-cruise-ship-1/