Le Soleal accidents and incidents

28 December 2022Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 28, 2022, a female passenger was medevaced after sustaining a fractured shoulder injury onboard. For the medical evacuation, the ship had to change course and make an unscheduled overnight stop in Bluff NZ (Dec 28-29/~13 hours in port) to disembark the woman for medical treatment. After that, the voyage continued as planned.

The incident occurred during the 14-day "Expedition to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands Cruise" (itinerary Dec 28 - Jan 11, roundtrip from Port Chalmers/Dunedin NZ) visiting Ulva Island, Fiordland NP, Snares Islands, Enderby Island, Auckland Island, Macquarie Island (Tasmania), Campbell Island and Antipodes Islands.

14 November 2018Ship Grounding

On November 14, 2018, the ship ran aground (contacted the seabed) while passing through Kirke Narrows (Chilean Patagonia). The ship was controlled by a Chilean pilot. The accident resulted in a damaged propeller (propulsion unit). However, initially was reported hull breach with water ingress. The vessel (by its own power) went to Puerto Natales (Chile) but was not allowed to approach the port. It anchored approx 6 km (4 ml) offshore for an underwater survey (hull inspection). No injuries or impact on passenger-crew safety were reported.

The current cruise was canceled, as well as the next scheduled (itinerary November 20 - December 1, 11-day Antarctica roundtrip from Ushuaia Argentina). All affected (pre-booked) customers were contacted by Compagnie du Ponant within 48 hours and offered cruise alternatives.

The cruise ship returned to Punta Arenas (Chile) under its own power, but for safety reasons was escorted by two tugboats. In Punta Arenas, all the 222 passengers were disembarked and the vessel entered drydock for necessary repairs. It re-entered service on November 30, leaving from Ushuaia.

(CruiseMapper emailed report by Hian Chan) "Passengers spent Nov 14th and 15th on the ship as distance, wind and sea conditions were considered unsuitable to tender passengers to shore. On Nov 16th, a tugboat arrived and the ship was allowed to be escorted closer to shore where passengers disembarked for a full day excursion to Torres del Paine. Passengers overnighted on the ship and disembarked again on Nov 17th, to be flown to the final cruise destination Ushuaia. Passengers who were continuing on Le Soleal (about 22) for the 20th Antarctica cruise were reassigned on to Le Lyrial for the Nov 18th itinerary. Other passengers were accommodated in Ushuaia the next 3 nights under the originally scheduled end of the cruise date. Our understanding is that Le Soleal cruise (Nov 20th Antarctica) was canceled and the ship is currently still in drydock per our information and your (CruiseMapper) ship tracker showed as of today (December 5, 2018), unknown as to when it will resume operation."