Alaska News

Video: Cruise ship crashes into Ketchikan dock

Celebrity Cruises' ship Infinity crashed into a Ketchikan dock on Friday afternoon, an accident the city's ports and harbors director estimates caused $2 million to $3 million in damage.

The cruise ship crashed into the Berth 3 dock between 2 and 2:30 p.m., said director Steve Corporon. The longshoremen, port security personnel and Celebrity employees noticed something was wrong with the ship's approach and moved out of the way, he said.

Engineers and contractors will take a closer look at the damage Saturday, he said. For now, the berth cannot be used. Corporon set a "very optimistic timeline" for when repairs will be completed at about one to two months.

The Infinity has been moved to Berth 2. The ship's crew is working on hull repairs, according to Corporon. Passengers are being let ashore, he said.

It's unknown whether the ship is cleared for sailing. Corporon said a hole in the ship is visible above its waterline.

No injuries or pollution were reported, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Shawn Eggert said. The Coast Guard also said it is working to determine the cause of the incident.

Wind in the area was reported to be gusting around 45 miles per hour, Eggert said.

According to the Celebrity's website, Infinity is 965 feet long and has a maximum occupancy of 2,170.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

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