Cruise ship aground in Oban
Crowds watch rescue attempt as ship runs aground in harbour
A LUXURY cruise ship ran aground in Oban Bay after entering the town’s harbour on the wrong side of a warning buoy.
Oban RNLI Lifeboat was called out by Stornoway Coastguard but initial efforts to tow the Serenissima free failed, due to a falling tide.
Coxswain John Hill said he hoped to pull the ship free at high tide late last night
In a scene reminiscent of when the Argyll town’s bay became home to a sperm whale for 10 days last month, crowds of people flocked to the esplanade to see the rescue attempt.
Mr Hill said: “There was just no way she was going to move, the tide was falling but hopefully we will get her free when the tide changes.
“It is a cruise ship and I understand it was coming into Oban to drop passengers off.
“I don’t know how many are on board, we were concentrating on trying to get a tow line aboard.”
Mr Hill said the ship had approached the harbour on the wrong side of an entrance buoy. He said: “The ship went on the wrong side of the buoy, it may well be that it had a problem, to make it go on the wrong side, we don’t know yet.”
He said he was not aware of any damage to the ship, which will be checked once it is freed.
Alan MacLeod, who owns Ee-usk Restaurant at the North Pier, Oban, said: “We wondered why the ship wasn’t moving and then we realised that it had come inside the buoy and was stuck.
“It’s a beautiful boat and it’s causing quite a stir, just like the whale did.
“I have seen other boats grounded on that side before, but only small boats, I have never seen a big boat stuck there.”
A Coastguard spokesman said: “It’s believed to be on shallow ground, it’s on sand and gravel, there is no sign of pollution, no sign of water ingress, and no injuries.
“It’s currently sitting upright and when the high tide comes in about 11.30pm it should be able to refloat. Oban Lifeboat is on standby.”
The 59-cabin cruise ship, which can cater for 110 guests, spent many years cruising the Norwegian coast as the Harald Jarl.
Her Norwegian owners Hurtigruten then sold the vessel to Elegant Cruises in 2002 and, after a substantial refit in Sweden she
It’s believed to be on shallow ground, it’s on sand and gravel, there is no sign of pollution, no sign of water ingress
began a new life as Andrea and undertook worldwide cruising.
Last year, her new joint owner, Serenissima Cruises, announced a major refurbishment prior to her commencing cruises again this season.
The cabins are equipped with air conditioning, showers, phones and flat-screen televisions.
It has different grades of cabin, arranged over five decks and with the exception of the five inside cabins, all staterooms feature either windows or portholes, some of them with balconies.
Other facilities on board include two lounges, library with computers for internet access, a spacious observation deck, fitness area, laundry service, first aid, massage and an elevator.