Source: Cruise Junkie dot Com

Events at Sea by Ryndam

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The events listed have been reported in the public domain or to cruisejunkie by passengers or crew members onboard.  The list is by no means comprehensive.  For that reason it is necessary to be cautious in drawing conclusions from the potentially limited data.  Keep in mind that some companies may be more transparent than others about things that go wrong; conversely, some companies may be better at concealing events and thereby project an appearance that is inaccurate.  With that said, the following list is still interesting, as are the patterns when viewed separately by ship.




dd/mm/yy
Event
Incident
29.11.10 The Smoking Gun reports an intoxicated California man early Saturday released the anchor while the vessel was traveling in international waters en route to Florida, investigators allege. The deployment of the stern anchor on the MS Ryndam “could have caused significant damage,” though the 719-foot ship was unharmed, according to an affidavit sworn by FBI Agent John Manning. A review of surveillance video identified Rick Ehlert, 44, as the passenger who released the anchor (as well as a life buoy). Ehlert, who was traveling with his girlfriend, admitted to deploying the ship’s anchor and throwing the life buoy overboard. Ehlert, who owns an RV dealership in Thousand Oaks, was arrested on a felony charge of attempting to “damage, destroy, disable, or wreck a vessel.” The FBI affidavit notes that the MS Ryndam’s captain made an announcement Saturday morning asking any passengers or crew members to come forward with information regarding the tossing of the life buoy overboard. When nobody came forward, “the ship’s emergency alarm was sounded and all passengers and crew were mustered on deck.” After everyone on board was accounted for, “they were released from the deck.”
Anchor released by pax
23.11.09 The ship was cited for one air quality violation in Alaska during the 2009 cruise season. Environmental
1.9.09 The ship was cited for violating Alaska Wastewater Quality Standards in July. There were two violations. The ship's effluent on July 21 and for the monthly average exceeded the allowable level of fecal coliform bacteria. Environmental
11.4.07
A passenger reports: At about 1:00 PM, April 11, I was finishing lunch in the dining room at a window table at the aft end of the ship when there was a loud clatter and the ship shuddered.  Looking out we could see that the stream from the propellers had stopped, and the ship was losing way and eventually came to a complete stop.  The Captain announced the Engineering Dept was working on it, and after awhile the ship was making 4.5 to 5 kts (per my GPS).  The was eventually increased to 14 to 17 kts, so we arrived at San Diego only some 4 hours late.  The Captain said the Coast Guard required the ship to have 2 tugboats to assist entering the harbor and docking.  The Captain said a representative of the propulsion unit manufacturer was flying to San Diego from Finland to help resolve the situation.  That evening the ships electrical power failed and the emergency lights came on.  The power was restored to some circuits after about 30 minutes, but other circuits, such as the main lighting and TV power in my cabin we not restored until after we docked in San Diego the next day.
Propulsion problems
--
Power Outage
11.3.07
The cruise scheduled to begin March 13 will be delayed for two days until March 15 so that a thorough cleaning can be completed.  Passengers on the affected cruise can cancel and receive a full refund, or take the cruise and receive a two-day refund plus onboard credits.
Cancelation because of illness
9.12.06
The ship spent the night anchored in Tampa Bay after encountering engine and electrical problems shortly after sailing.   The ship reported engine problems about an hour after sailing and stalled in the channel between the port and the Skyway Bridge.  Power was subsequently restored, but the Coast Guard said the ship would remain moored in the area overnight while they investigated the problem with the engines. Power Loss
14.12.04
The company agreed to a $2 million plea agreement in return for its discharge of raw sewage in Juneau Harbor in August 2002.  The offense was considered a misdemeanor.
Environmental
13.3.03
"The ship listed to the port side around 6:30 PM and caused injuries to passengers and crew.  Furniture went flying, dishes broke, glasses destroyed.  The pool emptied down the elevator shafts, and put elevators on the port sode out of commission for four days.  They explained the incident as a mechanical failure from going from manual to automatic pilot."  -- Passenger account
Unexpected list
17.8.02
Approximately 40,000 gallons (250 according to HAL) of sewage sludge discharged into Juneau harbour.  The incident was reported by harbourmaster staff.  The brown, thick substance is being tested  by Alaska's DEC for fecal coliform, pH, and biochemical demand levels.
Environmental
12.8.02
A generator stopped running while the ship was in the Lynn Canal (Alaska) causing it to lose power -- it lost all propulsion and was adrift for about 20 minutes (at 1:30 AM -- the water was too deep for the ship to drop anchor).  Passengers awoke expecting to be in Glacier Bay but were instead at Auke Bay. Escorted by a tug, the ship docked to undergo a Coast Guard inspection. Cruise continued, but Glacier Bay replaced by Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier.
Power failure & Lost Propulsion
1.8.02
Cruise canceled because of two successive cruises with  gastrointestinal illness from Norwalk-like virus.
Cancelation
16.9.99
Thirteen passengers were injured when a rudder glitch caused a list (estimated at 6 degrees)  that emptied a quarter of the indoor swimming pool.
Severe List




Illness Outbreaks at Sea by Ryndam
dd/mm/yy
2007
15.2.08
The ship reported 8 of 556 (1.44%) crew and 113 of 1226 (9.22%) passengers had reported ill on a 108 day Mexican Riviera cruise that began February 15 in San Diego and which disembarked February 25.
dd/mm/yy
2007
2.4.07
A passenger reports that the Mexican Riviera cruise ending today had an illness outbreak.  Those arriving for the next cruise were given a letter at check in that described the situation and that gave the option of a full refund if they chose to not make the cruise.  The ship was under "condition Red" for the entire cruise, with required hand disinfection, crew serving all food at the Lido, all hot clubs closed, complete cleaning of the ship every day, no bread baskets on the tables, etc.
13.3.07
The ship reported that 7 of 593 (1.18%) crew and 61 of 1209  (5.05% passengers had reported ill on a 10 day cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera, return (3 - 13 March).
27.2.07
On February 27 the ship reported that 17 of 579 (2.94%) crew and 116 of 1260  (9.21% passengers had reported ill on a 10 day cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera, return (21 Feb - 3 March).  Updated numbers 3 March:  26 of 579 (4.49%) crew and 184 of 1260  (14.4%) passengers.
26.2.07
The ship reported that 8 of 573 (1.4%) crew and 118 of 1153  (10.23% passengers had reported ill on a 30 day cruise from San Diego to Hawaii and the South Pacific, return (22 Jan - 21 Feb).  Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus)  CDC reports there is an elevated number of passengers reporting ill on the current 8 day cruise of the Mexican Riviera (21 Feb - 1 March).
dd/mm/yy
2006
4.6.06
On June 2, the ship reported that 5 of 574  (0.87%) crew and 64 of 1230 (5.2%) passengers were ill.  The predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea.  The 7 day Alaska cruise ended in Vancouver on June 4.
21.5.06
According to passengers, a "Code Red" was called the second night of the cruise due to gastro intestinal illness on board.  The Spa and the 2 public jacuzzi pools were closed, all meal service was conducted on a strictly controlled access basis - no self serve and staff wore vinyl gloves for practically all tasks.  The onboard shops didn't allow passengers to try on any necklaces, watches, or rings.  During the cruise, several more obvious crew members became ill - the Piano bar pianist, the Bingo caller/Asst cruise director.  While the Captain continued to reassure passengers that no actual problem existed, many passengers were  missing from dinner tables and quarantited to their cabins. One staff reported that 50 passengers had reported sick; a passenger heard that as many as 50 crew had become ill.  The CDC posted on their site June 7th (dated May 21) that 102 of 1279 (7.97%) passengers and 13 of 570 (2.28%) of crew.
dd/mm/yy
2005 and earlier
24.1.05
The CDC reports that 267 of 1,223 passengers (21.8%) and 30 of 574 crew members (5.2%) so far have reported  ill during the January 13 - 29 cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale.
13.2.04
79 passengers and 10 crew reported gastrointestinal illness suspected to be caused by Norwalk-like virus.  The seven day cruise to Mexico began February 7.
25.7 - 1.8.02
Outbreak of gastrointestinal illness (189 pax and 30 crew) from Norwalk-like virus reported by July 30th at 6 PM. The ship is taken out of service to be sanitized.   See CDC for more information.
18-25.7.02
Outbreak of gastrointestinal illness (167 pax and nine crew) from Norwalk-like virus reported when ship arrived in Vancouver.  See CDC for more information.
24.4.02
Gastrointestinal outbreak reported to CDC -- 52 pax (5.51%) and 17 Crew (3.19%)


Illness Outbreaks by: