Empress of the North

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The Empress of the North is a 360-foot (110 m) diesel-powered paddlewheeler operated by Majestic America Line. She was built in 2002 at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard ^[1] on Whidbey Island for $50 million and debuted as a cruise ship in 2003. She is listed as accommodating 223 guests, and cruises Alaska's Inside Passage, the Pacific Northwest, and the Columbia River. The ship is decorated with a 19th century Russian theme, but adds an Alaskan touch with carvings and masks. ^[2]

Several smaller port cities in Alaska like Wrangell and Petersburg depend on the visits by the Empress for a substantial amount of tourist related commerce. ^[3]

[edit] Grounding incidents

The Empress has run aground four times. She struck a navigation lock in October 2003 at the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River ^[4] and suffered another grounding in November 2003 near The Dalles in the Columbia River. She grounded again in March 2006 near Washougal ^[5] 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. ^[6] 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. ^[7] Though the Empress 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. ^[8] The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation ^[9] ^[10] but maritime experts believe the accident was caused by the inexperience of a ship's officer. ^[11]