Sky Wonder - aground near Kusadasi, passengers evacuated

**Ally** · 03-26-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Passengers of cruise liner "Sky Wonder" which ran aground at Setur Marina while dockingat at the Kusadasi port of western province of Aydin on Tuesday under heavy winds were evacuated on Wednesday.

A total of 1,029 passengers were evacuated and brought to Kusadasi safely.

"Sky Wonder" ran aground due to storm on Tuesday while approaching Kusadasi port.

Sources said condition of the passengers (most of whom are Spanish citizens) is good, and 27 passengers as well as 567 crew members rejected to leave the ship.

Kusadasi port chairman Celal Oral told reporters that there is no mechanical failure in the ship, and efforts to rescue the ship will start after required procedures are completed.

The New Anatolian

**Ally** · 03-26-2008, 09:12 AM

This ship got herself stuck on a sandbank in January 2007, off Buenos Aires.

**Ally** · 03-26-2008, 12:53 PM

Update...

Quote:

KUSADASI - Rescue efforts are underway to pull the cruise liner "Sky Wonder" to the Kusadasi sea port after the ship ran aground on Tuesday while approaching Kusadasi.

Two tugboats are involved in the rescue operation.

Passengers aboard the ship are being carried in life boats to the Kusadasi sea port.

Sky Wonder will continue her trip after heavy winds calm down and it goes through repairs.

The ship has 1,200 passengers and a crew of 567 people.

Rescue Efforts Continue For Cruise Liner In Kusadasi

**Ally** · 03-27-2008, 04:34 AM

The Australian media have touched the past history of Sky Wonder in many of their articles this morning...

Quote:

Cursed Dianne Brimble cruise ship runs aground off Turkey

* Brimble cruise ship runs aground
* Aussies believed to be on board
* Latest in string of incidents

THE cruise ship that Dianne Brimble died on has become the Turkish equivalent of the Pasha Bulker after running aground and reportedly leaving Australians stranded.

More than 1000 passengers onboard the Spanish-owned Sky Wonder – which used to be known as the Pacific Sky – were evacuated after the ship ran aground near the city of Kusadasi on Tuesday, Turkish media reported.

Life-boats were used to transport the majority of people onboard the vessel to the city, but 27 passengers and 567 crew members had elected to stay with the ship.

The Xinhua reported that the majority of passengers were Spanish citizens.

A NEWS.com.au reader in Kusadasi said Australian tourists were among the passengers on the ship when it ran aground during a storm.

Yesterday, two tugboats had tried to move the 240m long ship into deeper waters but it is believed that the cruiser is still stranded.

Port officials said the ship was not damaged during the incident.

The beaching has been the latest of a series of incidents to affect the ship.

Gearbox problems have caused several scheduled cruises to have either been cancelled or cut short in recent years.

In 2006, the ship broke down and was anchored in the Malacca Strait – near Singapore – for about 30 hours. The waters where the vessel broke down was a notorious spot for pirates to visit.

In January last year, the ship also ran aground while travelling along the Rio de la Plata in Argentina.

The cruise ship attracted attention from Australian media after the death of Brisbane woman Brimble in 2002, when it was owned by P&O Cruises Australia.

The 42-year-old mother of three’s death sparked controversy over the activities of passengers and crew on cruise ships.

Pullmantur Cruises in Spain currently own the ship.

Cursed Dianne Brimble cruise ship runs aground off Turkey | NEWS.com.au