CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko accidents and incidents

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko cruise ship
Rating:

Former names
Vasco da Gama (CMV), Pacific Eden (P&O), MS Statendam

Length (LOA)
219 m / 719 ft

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CruiseMapper's CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko cruise ship accidents, incidents and law news reports relate to a 1512-passenger vessel owned by Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises). Our CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko accidents page contains reports made by using official data from renown online news media sources, US Coast Guard and Wikipedia.

Here are also reported latest updates on cruise law news related to ashore and shipboard crimes still investigated by the police. Among those could be arrests, filed lawsuits against the shipowner / cruise line company, charges and fines, grievances, settled / withdrawn legal actions, lost cases, virus outbreaks, etc.

  • July 2020 - CMV filed for bankruptcy
  • fires - 2002 (generator room), 2012 (fuel pump)
  • propulsion/power loss - 2019
  • pollution in Alaska - 2010 (thrice)
  • Norovirus - 2015 (60 pax)
  • deaths - overboard (2005, 2015), crew (2020)
  • injuries/crimes - crew (2011, 2020)

During its service history, the vessel was also known as “MS Statendam” (launched 1993) being constructed for Holland America Line and operated until 2015. In 2015-2019 (as "Pacific Eden"), it was transferred by the shipowner Carnival Corporation to P&O Australia. In April 2019 started its CMV service for the new Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV).

20 July 2020Other Incidents

On July 20, 2020, CMV's parent company SQTL (South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd) was placed into administration / filed for bankruptcy. The UK-based company traded as "Cruise and Maritime Voyages" (trademarked brand, aka CMV). As Joint Administrators (evaluating SQTL's financial position) were appointed Paul Williams, Phil Dakin and Edward Bines of Duff & Phelps Ltd.

SQTL-CMV's cruisetour packages were protected by ABTA (number V9945). SQTL-CMV's fly-cruise packages are protected by ATOL (number 4619). All CMV cruise bookings (fleetwide/all ships) were effectively cancelled.

In June, SQTL-CMV entered into emergency talks with potential investors and lenders. Unfortunately, the company's efforts to secure funding and stay afloat during the Coronavirus crisis failed. The future of the CMV ships (some SQTL-owned, some chartered) remains unknown.

17 June 2020Crew / Passenger Deaths

On June 17, 2020, a male crew died on the ship berthed at Port Tilbury-London (England UK). The man (Krishna Kumar Balaji, from India) was employed as a First Cook (galley / kitchen job). Reportedly, he died from a heart attack at ~3 AM and in the Infirmary (ship's medical facility).

The crew was recently transferred from the fleetmate CMV Astoria, which was scheduled to enter drydock at Naval Rocha Shipyard (Lisbon, Portugal). The man together with other colleagues was awaiting repatriation via charter flights from the UK to India.

20 May 2020Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(crew overboard/suicide attempt) On May 20, 2020, while the CMV-owned cruise liner was docked at Port Tilbury (London UK), a male crew fell (intentionally jumped) overboard suffering serious injuries. The man (Indonesian) fell from Sports Deck 12 landing on a TEU-container pierside. To the scene were immediately dispatched two ambulances and a helicopter. First aid was administered by paramedics at the dock, then the man was ambulanced to a London hospital.

The liner was berthed at Tilbury Port since May 1 (laid up due to the global Coronavirus pandemic), without passengers and carrying a total of 486 staff-crew. The injured crew worked in the ship's provisions department, being employed by CMV as a Hotel Storekeeper.

The ship arrived in Tilbury after completing a repatriation voyage from Fremantle-Perth (Western Australia) via Phuket (Thailand). At the time of the incident, in Port Tilbury were also docked the CMV fleetmates Astoria and Magellan, as well as the Saga Group-owned cruise ships Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire.

18 March 2020Other Incidents

(Coronavirus issues) On March 18, 2020, CMV conducted un unique operation (industry's first passenger transfer at sea) swapping the Australian and European passengers between the ships Vasco da Gama and Columbus. CMV Vasco da Gama was on 71-day World Voyage from Fremantle to Tilbury-London (itinerary February 12 - April 23). CMV Columbus was on 120-day "Grand Round the World Cruise 2020" (itinerary January 6 - May 5) roundtrip from Tilbury-London.

The operation was originally planned to be conducted at Port Phu My (Saigon Vietnam), where both vessels were scheduled to dock for loading provisions and refuelling while exchanging passengers. However, on March 17, CMV announced that it had received permission for the operation to be carried out off Phuket Island's coast instead.

The decision was taken following numerous flight cancellations and seaport (and border) closures globally due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. So to repatriate all cruise ship passengers as close to home as possible, CMV decided to swap Vasco da Gama's European nationals to Columbus, in the same time transferring the Columbus' Australian and New Zealand nationals to Vasco do Gama.

Carrying 952 passengers (including 798 AU and 108 NZ nationals) and 552 crew, Vasco da Gama proceeded directly toward Australia, with planned docking and passenger debarkation in Fremantle on March 27. The ship returned to the UK (docked in Port Tilbury-London) on May 1. During the return voyage (on April 13), the vessel made a technical stop in Port Cape Town (South Africa) for bunkering/fuelling.

Carrying 907 passengers (602 UK nationals) and 619 crew, Columbus proceeded toward the UK (via Suez Canal), with a technical stop in Colombo (Sri Lanka) and planned debarkation in Tilbury-London on April 14.

On March 24, Western Australia's Premier (Mark McGowan) announced state's decision to quarantine all Australian cruisers of CMV Vasco da Gama to Rottnest Island after the debarkation in Port Fremantle. There, all of them were required to self-isolate for 14 days. Three Rottnest ferry companies were chartered to transport in small groups all cruisers to Rottnest Island (protected nature reserve located offshore from Perth City).

06 December 2019Propulsion / Power Loss

On December 6, 2019, at ~5:40 am, the CMV ship experienced a complete blackout while navigating off South Australia's coast - in Gulf St Vincent (approx 4 km from Port Adelaide). The accident resulted in total loss of power and propulsion (became adrift) for several hours. The liner was carrying a total of 828 passengers. The ship's lighting-, water- and vacuum toilet systems were also affected.

Local maritime authorities were duly notified by the Captain. CMV later officially commented that the power outage was "controlled" and "precautionary”, following an alarm light in the engine room. The blackout was initiated as a precaution against eventual system damages and to allow investigation of the alarm.

The accident occurred at the end of 5-day repositioning cruise (itinerary December 1-6) from Sydney NSW to Adelaide, visiting Burnie Tasmania (Dec 3 - cancelled) and Melbourne (Dec 4).

December 2015Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(P&O Pacific Eden) In December 2015, P&O Australia reported 60 people (passengers and crew, or ~4% of all 1500) being affected by a Norovirus outbreak. The ship was on 12-day Australia "Christmas Cruise" (itinerary Dec 16-28) from homeport Sydney to Mooloolaba, Hamilton Island, Cairns, Cooktown, Willis Island, Moreton Island.

Note: When the itinerary doesn’t include US cruise ports, the ship is not required to report to CDC, thus no official illness report would be issued.

12 July 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Statendam / overboard) On July 12, 2015, a 64-year-old male passenger was reported overboard. The ship was on 14-day Alaskan cruise roundtrip from homeport Seattle WA and en-route from Victoria BC to Seattle. The man (of US origin) was traveling alone. The conducted by Canadian Coast Guard assets search and rescue operation lasted over 6 hours but was unsuccessful in finding the body.

02 June 2013Boat Rescue

(MS Statendam) On August 2, 2013, the ship assisted the small ship Baranof Wind (79-ft sightseeing tour boat) experiencing mechanical issues / lost power near John Hopkins Glacier (Glacier Bay, Alaska). MS Statendam arrived at ~1:45 pm, responding to a distress call received upon leaving Margerie Glacier (Glacier Bay). Two tenders were lowered to collect 102 passengers from the small vessel. They were offloaded at Bartlett Cove at ~7:30 pm the same day.

The Holland America ship was on 7-day Alaskan cruise (itinerary June 5-12) roundtrip from homeport Vancouver BC (Canada).

13 September 2012Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Statendam) On September 13, 2012, the ship suffered a power outage caused by a fuel pump explosion. The accident resulted in nearly 2 hours lost of all power and drifting.

01 April 2011Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(MS Statendam) On April 1, 2011, a 25-year-old male crew sustained a back injury while the ship was docked in homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) Florida. The man (of Indonesian origin) was disembarked and sent to Jakarta for medical treatment.

2010Sea Pollution

(MS Statendam) In 2010, the vessel was reported 3 times for Alaska water pollution. The conducted tests of its wastewater showed higher than allowed levels of ammonia – on May 28, June 2 and July 20.

April 2006Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Statendam) In April 2006, an epidemic Norovirus outbreak infected “hundreds” (unspecified number) of passengers and crew during a Holland America cruise (itinerary April 3-17 ) from Osaka Japan to Hong Kong China. To contain the gastrointestinal illness outbreak, the ship was thoroughly fumigated (all cabins and facilities). It remained in "Code Red" throughout the whole voyage, and also in the first 4 days of the next scheduled voyage. All infected and their companions were quarantined to their cabins, with room service provided.

Note: When the itinerary doesn’t include US cruise ports, the ship is not required to report to CDC, thus no official illness report would be issued.

December 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Statendam) In December 2005, unofficially was reported a Norovirus outbreak affecting at least 70 passengers and crew.

03 January 2005Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Statendam, overboard) On January 3, 2005, a 73-year-old male passenger was reported jumped overboard and missing. The incident occurred on the night before the San Diego disembarkation during 7-day Hawaii cruise from San Diego while the ship was in the region of Coronado Islands (Baja California).

November 2002Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Statendam) In November 2002, a California-based news media reported flu virus infected 9 passengers and 6 crew during 10-day Mexico Riviera cruise from homeport San Diego CA.

On the previous itinerary, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 40 people (passengers and crew). All sick were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

04 August 2002Fire Accident

(MS Statendam) On August 4, 2002, at ~9 am, the vessel suffered a generator room fire, affecting generator 4 and both Azipods/propulsion motors. The ship on an Alaskan cruise, returning back to homeport Vancouver BC (approx 25 ml / 40 km away from homeport, in Strait of Georgia). The next scheduled itinerary (departure August 11) was canceled due to repairs of the diesel-electrical generation system. As compensation, all booked passengers were fully refunded, and in addition, received the option of either 25% future Holland America cruise booking discount or 150% onboard credit.

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