Aurora Expeditions' chartered ship Ocean Explorer/tracker has been successfully dislodged from her grounding in the remote wilderness of northeast Greenland. Following multiple attempts to free the vessel, the Nature Institute's research ship, Tarajoq, undertook yet another rescue endeavor, which ultimately achieved the long-awaited success. This development was confirmed by Brian Jensen, the commanding captain and head of the operations department at the Arctic Command.
Carsten Lund, CEO of Sunstone, the shipping company that owns ms Ocean Explorer, also verified the vessel's release. However, further specifics regarding the incident are undisclosed due to a charter agreement with the Australian tourism company, Aurora Expeditions.
MS Ocean Explorer, carrying 206 passengers and crew, had run aground in the vicinity of Alpefjord National Park, situated ~1400 km/870 mi northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk. This isolated grounding presented a formidable challenge for all parties involved.
In response to the incident, the Greenland Police initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the grounding. Their primary objective is to ascertain the cause of the accident and determine whether any legal violations contributed to this unfortunate mishap.
A press release issued by the Greenland Police stated that a police officer had been transported to the ship and would conduct initial investigative steps, which included interviewing the crew and other relevant individuals on board.
In addition, 6 personnel from the Sirius Patrol boat, part of the Danish naval unit responsible for patrolling Greenland's remote regions, boarded Ocean Explorer to ensure the well-being and safety of the passengers and crew.