An Alaska-bound cruise ship had to return to Seattle late yesterday (Saturday eve.) after a small fire broke out onboard. No one was injured.
According to the Coast Guard, the crew of the Holland America cruise ship MS Westerdam reported a fire in a boiler room around 5 p.m. Saturday. That was about an hour after the cruise ship left its summertime home port of Seattle for a seven night Alaska cruise. Coast Guard petty officer George Degener says tug boats escorted the Westerdam back to its pier with no injuries reported.
George Degener: "Thankfully, the crew members on board the vessel were able to safely extinguish the fire and they were able to make it back to port on their own."
Degener says Coast Guard investigators have boarded the cruise ship to assess the damage. Holland America said in the statement that the Westerdam was fully booked with more than 2800 passengers and crew. The cruise line hopes they can resume their voyage soon.
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