Heroic Sea Rescue Performed by the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas rescued 14 Cuban refugees lost at sea near Honduras on March 3, 2024.
In a commendable demonstration of maritime expertise and humanitarian action, Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, became the centerpiece of a high-seas rescue operation off the coast of Honduras.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which only just launched its maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, shifted roles from luxury liner to rescue vessel upon encountering 14 individuals stranded at sea for eight days.
The early morning hours disclosed a dramatic episode amidst a “7-Night Western Cruise” sailing on the Caribbean sea. On the morning of March 3, 2024, a member of the onboard lookout team noticed an ill-equipped tiny raft floating directionless in the grand blue sea.
Skipping no beats, Captain Henrik Loy immediately teamed up with his crew to execute a rescue mission, complying with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
As Chapter V, Regulation 33 clearly stipulates, “Any seafaring vessel’s captain who is capable of providing assistance upon receiving a signal of persons in distress at sea, must hasten to their aid.”
In the face of the open sea, the Icon’s rescue mission becomes the focus point for various news agencies like ABC News, ABC Network, NBC News and Fox News.
The crew of Icon of the Seas worked in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure immediate medical care was provided to stabilize the refugees who had been exposed to harsh elements for several days.
A representative from Royal Caribbean spoke with CruiseHive and stated, “On the 3rd of March, 2024, Icon of the Seas encountered a drifting small vessel in need of help. The crew of the ship commenced a rescue operation and safely brought on board 14 individuals. They provided medical help to these people and have been liaising with the U.S. Coast Guard.”
For a fresh perspective on the rescue by Icon of the Seas, click here.
According to a report by a local media house, the rescued refugees were transported by the Icon of the Seas to its next port of call which was Roatan, Honduras. Here, the Merchant Navy of Honduras met the ship.
The Honduran news source reported that the migrants were hopeful they would be allowed to be transported to the U.S.
While the recent rescue operation by Icon of the Seas stands out due to the vessel’s stature, rescues at sea are not uncommon in the cruise industry.
Just three weeks before Icon’s mission, Carnival Celebration, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, came to the aid of 20 Cuban refugees facing distress in the Florida Straits. The ship’s crew provided food and water to those in need until the U.S. Coast Guard’s Key West sector arrived.
In January, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady rescued 18 Cuban refugees from a sinking boat in the Caribbean.
Notably, this isn’t the maiden time a Royal Caribbean vessel has played savior in the Caribbean. In the month of January, 2023, the esteemed ship Liberty of the Seas performed a akin operation, rescuing 17 Cuban expatriates found drifting on a small floatation device while it was sailing towards The Bahamas.
The ship christened Icon of the Seas, which was introduced to the seas by Royal Caribbean International, has swiftly risen to the apex of nautical accomplishments, being crowned the world’s largest cruise ship.
The size of this titan of a ship is fairly noteworthy, measuring a staggering 1,198 feet from its front bow to its end stern and tipping the scales at 250,800 gross tons. Its primary docking location is the city of Miami. The majority of its voyages in its inaugural season and the subsequent years of 2024 and 2025 will be around the Caribbean.
Being capable of accommodating an impressive 7,600 passengers, the Icon of the Seas frequently embarks on a 7-night roundtrip journeys sailing from Miami to the picturesque locales of the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
The current voyage started on March 2, 2024, and Roatan was the first stop after the rescue. Icon of the Seas carried on with its journey, visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. The ship is going to dock at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas before returning to Miami on March 9, 2024.
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