Sky Wonder gets stuck on sandbank off Argentina January 18 2007

**Ally** · 01-18-2007, 12:11 PM

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A cruise ship carrying about 1,600 Brazilian tourists was stranded off the port of Buenos Aires on Thursday after getting stuck on a sandbank, a port official said.

Pullmantur Cruises' Sky Wonder ship got stuck several miles (kilometres) from the port along the vast River Plate, which separates Argentina and neighboring Uruguay.

Strong winds apparently caused problems for the luxury line after it set sail late on Wednesday, port officials said.

Pullmantur Cruises, Spain's biggest cruise and tour operator, is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd(RCL.OL: Quote, Profile , Research)(RCL.N: Quote, Profile , Research), the world's No. 2 cruise group.

**Ally** · 01-18-2007, 03:59 PM

**Update**

Following three unsuccessful attempts to free the ship, she is now on her way to Punta del Este after getting free at high tide. No damage or injuries have been reported.

**Ally** · 01-19-2007, 04:08 AM

Sky Wonder stuck firm on the sand bank in the River Plate, just outside Buenos Aires yesterday...

**Ally** · 01-19-2007, 11:59 AM

**Update**

Tugboats on Thursday afternoon freed Sky Wonder from a sandbank in the River Plate near Buenos Aires where the ship had grounded the night before.

Mercopress News Agency said three tugs and two Argentine Coast Guard vessels participated in the operation to free the Pullmantur Cruises vessel.

**Ally** · 01-22-2007, 09:14 AM

**Update**

A cruise vessel was grounded for more than twenty hours after experiencing problems after strong maritime winds.

It was reported that the 1612 passengers, mostly from Brazil had to endure the standstill onboard Pullmantur Cruises’ Sky Wonder. The vessel experienced problems several miles from the port of Buenos Aires while heading for Punta del Este, in Uruguay.

Argentine Coast Guard travellers revealed that passengers had to suffer an additional delay while the Sky Wonder underwent a full technical check.

The vessel was able to be pulled out using three tugs, two Coast Guard vessels, and a helicopter which coordinated the whole operation to free the cruise ship.

Coast guards revealed that the operation went smoothly, with the exception of a traveller who had to be air evacuated after complaining of arrhythmia.