A US-based ocean explorer recently made a valiant effort to rescue a cruise ship that had become wedged in the ice near Greenland. The endeavor, however, was ultimately unsuccessful.
The cruise ship, MV Ocean Nova, owned by The Third Ocean, departed from Nuuk, Greenland in December 2020 in hopes of enjoying an Arctic cruise. Unfortunately, the ship quickly ran into trouble after it became embedded in a thick sheet of ice near Baffin Island.
John Lasky, the President of European Arctic and Polar Ocean Exploration (EAPOE), was contacted by The Third Ocean and asked to intervene to help free the vessel. Lasky immediately assembled a crack team and sent them to explore the ship’s location.
Upon arriving at the scene, the team quickly assessed the situation and determined the only way to free the vessel was to wait for the natural warming of the ocean. The team also advised The Third Ocean to wait patiently instead of attempting to use force to free the vessel from its icy prison.
Despite modifications that had been made to the ship in an attempt to give it a better chance of navigating the treacherous Greenlandic waters, it was not quite enough to get her out of trouble. After weeks of waiting patiently, it soon became clear that the efforts of the team were in vain.
Mr. Lasky and his team are now focused on finding ways to help The Third Ocean and its passengers stay safe and comfortable while waiting for the ocean to thaw. The team continues to monitor the vessel and provide updates on its status, as well as their new discoveries in the icy waters of Greenland.
It’s unfortunate that the venture to free the cruise ship was not successful, but luckily no one was hurt in the process. We hope that the ocean explorer’s efforts will serve as a lesson for others who venture into Arctic regions and that future expeditions may be more successful.
