Empress of the North

by Robert Bales

Title

Empress of the North

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

The Empress of the North is a 360-foot (110 m) diesel-powered paddle-wheeler that was formerly operated by Majestic America Line. She was built in 2002 at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard on Whidbey Island for $50 million and debuted as a cruise ship in 2003. She is listed as accommodating 223 guests, and cruised Alaska's Inside Passage, the Pacific Northwest, and the Columbia River. At the time she was operating the ship was decorated with a 19th century Russian theme, but adds an Alaskan touch with carvings and masks.
The Empress of the North has run aground four times. She struck a navigation lock in October 2003 at the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River, and suffered another grounding in November 2003 near The Dalles in the Columbia River. She grounded again in March 2006 near Washougal in the Columbia River.
Early on May 14, 2007, The Empress of the North struck Rocky Island while navigating a 90 degree turn to starboard about 50 nautical miles (90 km) from Juneau, Alaska in Icy Strait. She began taking on water, forcing all 248 passengers to abandon ship. Reports that the vessel either grounded on Hanus Reef, several miles away, or later drifted there were in error. Several fishing boats, a tugboat and barge, another small cruise ship, and the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty evacuated the Empress' passengers, who were eventually transferred to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Columbia. There were no injuries, and the rescue effort took place in relatively favorable conditions, amid intermittent rain showers and light winds. Though the Empress of the North had developed a 6 degree list, 33 members of the crew stayed aboard to facilitate the vessel's return to Juneau under her own power. She was escorted en route there by Coast Guard helicopter and a third small cruise ship. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation,but maritime experts believe the accident was caused by the inexperience of a ship's officer. The Empress of the North was repaired at the shipyards of Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon by Vigor Marine LLC, and returned to service on July 7, 2007.

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February 23rd, 2013

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