Crew member killed in cruise ship explosion
Passengers reel after gas bottle explodes on ship
Apassenger aboard a cruise ship on which a crew member died in an explosion has recounted the harrowing scenes which followed the blast. Crew and passengers of Emerald Princess were left reeling after the man was killed carrying out technical work on the ship in Port Chalmers about 4.45pm yesterday.
Australian Edna Welthorpe, a passenger on the ship, said she heard “an almighty explosion”.
Passengers rushed over to the side of the ship and saw a severed hand lying near a gas cylinder on the concrete wharf below.
Ms Welthorpe said she was on the sun deck when a “very, very loud” explosion occurred.
Passengers were told the crew member was filling the cylinder at the time it exploded.
“The atmosphere on board is extremely sombre,” she said. “I saw a number of passengers crying. No-one wants to die at work.”
Crew members were saying the dead man was a Filipino, she said.
Emerald Princess was due to sail from Port Chalmers at 6pm yesterday, but remained in port last night following the tragedy.
The liner arrived from Akaroa about 7.45am yesterday and was due to sail to Fiordland.
Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said the ship would not leave the port until receiving Maritime New Zealand clearance.
Passengers were on the wharf walking back to the ship at the time of the explosion, he said. None were injured by the falling gas cylinder.
“Passengers who were returning to the ship at the time of the explosion were held in Port Otago's cruise facility and then taken directly to the ship's gangway by bus,” he said.
Carnival Australia corporate communication manager David Jones said the cruise operator was assisting with investigations.
“We are working closely with local police and other authorities. We are deeply saddened that a member of Emerald Princess' crew was fatally injured,” he said.