Classification
- Incident Type: Collision with an unidentified submerged object.
- Severity: Medium, based on the reported steering problem, tug-assisted return, cruise cancellation, and repair period.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Columbus |
| Vessel Type | Cruise |
| Flag State | Bahamas [BS] |
| IMO Number | 8611398 |
| MMSI | 311000535 |
| Call Sign | C6CP4 |
| Gross Tonnage | 63786 |
| LOA (m) | 245.6 |
| Breadth (m) | 32.2 |
| Bollard Pull (t) | |
| Power (kW) | |
| Owner/Operator | Cruise & Maritime Voyages |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | 1989 |
| Crew Size |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2019-05-30 |
| Location | Departing Amsterdam; North Sea; returned to IJmuiden, Netherlands |
| Coordinates | 52.4600, 4.5500 |
| Region | North Sea |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | Rudder and steering problems were reported; specific physical damage was not disclosed. |
| Economic Damage | |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- Columbus reported contact with an unidentified submerged object while leaving Amsterdam on 2019-05-30.
- Port authorities, divers, and inspectors examined the vessel, after which it continued toward Norway.
- Steering or rudder problems developed in the North Sea on 2019-05-31; the vessel returned to IJmuiden around 05:30 UTC on 2019-06-02 with two tugboats.
- The affected cruise was cut short, and contemporary reports later placed the vessel in Rotterdam for repairs.
- A contemporary operator report counted 1,323 passengers and 616 crew aboard; no casualty count was published in the sources reviewed.
Narrative
The cruise ship Columbus left Amsterdam on 2019-05-30 on a voyage toward Norway. Contemporary reports said that the vessel struck or made contact with an unidentified object below the waterline. Port authorities and other inspectors examined the vessel, and it continued the voyage after the initial checks.
During the night of 2019-05-31, while the ship was in the North Sea, it developed rudder or steering problems. Reports differed in how they described the inspection sequence, but they consistently linked the later return to the earlier underwater contact and described checks by divers or inspectors. Columbus turned back and reached IJmuiden at about 05:30 UTC on 2019-06-02 with assistance from two tugboats.
The affected cruise was canceled or cut short, and passengers were provided with refunds, rebooking, or travel arrangements according to contemporary reporting. A later report placed Columbus in Rotterdam for repairs. The available sources do not disclose a definitive physical-damage assessment, monetary loss, or casualty count. A report quoting the operator said that passenger and crew safety was not in danger, but that statement does not establish that no injuries occurred.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-30 | Columbus departed Amsterdam and reported contact with an unidentified submerged object. |
| 2019-05-30 to 2019-05-31 | Authorities, divers, or inspectors examined the vessel, which continued toward Norway after initial checks. |
| 2019-05-31 | Steering or rudder problems developed while Columbus was in the North Sea. |
| 2019-06-02 05:30 UTC | Columbus returned to IJmuiden and berthed with assistance from two tugboats. |
| 2019-06-05 | A contemporary report placed Columbus in Rotterdam for repairs and described the cruise as interrupted. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier underwater contact | Suspected | Contemporary reports said the later rudder or steering problems were believed to be related to the earlier contact. No official causal finding was located. |
Investigation
Port authorities, divers, and other inspectors examined Columbus after the reported contact. No official investigation report or final causal finding was located in the public sources reviewed. The specific object, the extent of physical damage, and the reason for the steering problem remain unresolved.
References
- CMV Columbus accidents and incidents
- CMV Columbus sailing cancelled after ship strikes foreign object
- Columbus returns to the Netherlands after technical problem
- MS Columbus lies damaged in Rotterdam
- Columbus vessel particulars, Port of Hamburg
- COLUMBUS - IMO 8611398, ShipSpotting