Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Two killed in Royal Caribbean cruise ship accident on St.Kitts

Above: Port Zante, St Kitts. Photo: Times Caribbean
Times Caribbean

BASSETERRE, St Kitts - Two men tragically lost their lives in an accident involving Royal Caribbean’s ‘Independence of the Seas’ on St.Kitts on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 . Reports are that The two men apparently were assisting with the unberthing process of the cruise vessel when it overturned while the ship was pulling out of port.

Eyewitnesses suggest that the Cruise Liner may have pulled out before the men had enough time to clear the berting area. As a result the sea currents created by the massive cruise liner may have caused the smaller berting boat to capsize and the men were apparently sucked below water by the current and drowned.

A member of the crew on the Royal Caribbean “Independence of the Seas” Cruise Ship said “The small boat was capsized when our rear azipods pushed us away from the dock. The two men where thrown overboard and never resurfaced, only one had on a life vest, the other man's life vest came off when he was thrown into the water. The capsized boat was then pushed into the back of the Silhouette. All of this viewed from my aft balcony, kinda puts a damper on an otherwise wonderful cruise. Very sad for the families of these two men.”

A passenger on the cruise liner indicated that they heard an “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” call and there was some commotion.

He said “Sitting in the port of St kitts, a port boat capsized while helping untie our ropes. We heard an "Oscar Oscar Oscar " then lots of action…………… Both the Indy(Independence of the Seas) and Sillouette were involved in the search effort. We left 4 hours late. “

The incident is under investigation and the St.Kitts Air and Sea Port Authority have announced a Press Conference for Thursday April 3rd at 3pm.

S.L Horsford and Co. Ltd employers of one of the victims and owners of the small boat involved,  issued a statement expressing sympathy and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.

Up to Press Time Royal Caribbean has yet to issue an official release on the tragic incident.

26 Responses to “Two killed in Royal Caribbean cruise ship accident on St.Kitts”

  • Hmm (03/04/2014, 21:22) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    May there souls rest in piece
  • cay (03/04/2014, 22:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    gosh how sad in my homeland sugar city
  • Binocs (03/04/2014, 23:16) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    very careless crew member who saw wat happened they did not stop the ship after a long time if they had stop the ship at the same time the men would survive
  • Fly Frog (04/04/2014, 00:33) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Royal Caribbean must be held completely responsible for this mishap. I am in the same business providing the same service to cruise ships in my port and I have had the same close call incident many times with our line handling boat. The ship failed to allow the line boat to clear the stern before putting power to the pods. These men had no chance to escape or survive. The stern mooring officer is responsible to give the all clear after retrieving the mooring lines these men had thrown off the mooring dolphin. He and the bridge command obviously was only concerned about the lines - and after retrieving the lines they blasted off the dock. As Docking Master I have reprimanded many a Captain and Pilot for powering up before my men cleared. I to have had men thrown into the water. May the families of these men find peace.
    • Bob (06/04/2014, 08:24) Like (0) Dislike (8) Reply
      I truly disagree with the comments that the cruise line is responsible first of all I was and I witness to see what happens the one was not wearing a vest illegals get in front of the boat and put the best dorm or tried to also the menu for their boat back into the area they should stay clear if they knew what they were doing training with it said you don't go in the current like that
  • cruisetime (04/04/2014, 15:22) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    Fly Frog. Where you there? If not stop accusing until you actually know what happened.
  • say so (04/04/2014, 18:06) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    @cruisetime even though he was not there he is makin a lot of sense


  • Jay (05/04/2014, 02:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    These ships have local pilots that are in charge of berthing
  • SKB (05/04/2014, 09:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is so sad. My deepest sympathy to the families of the men. Praying that in this difficult time they will find strength to carry on. God is still in control!
  • Stacey (06/04/2014, 08:19) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was there. I saw the entire incident. Fly frog is correct.. The cruise ship fired those engines the moment that poor man stepped back on his boat to leave. They had no time to attempt to leave safely. They were sideways between the two cruise ships and could not straighten their vessel to attempt escape due to the engines thrusting on the R. C. Ship. Completely avoidable and tragic.
    • Des (06/04/2014, 13:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      STACEY, my wife and I were there too, on the Silhouette. We saw the bodies being retrieved. Did you see the accident well enoughto know if the smaller boat hit the Silhouette ship?
  • Barbara (06/04/2014, 20:23) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    We were on the Silhouette and I was very upset about this incident. I did not witness the unfortunate accident but I have been very upset thinking about the deaths of these two men. I would like to know who they were. I wish that the two cruise ships in st kitts at the time said more about who the men were rather than what happened. If every person on the two ships donated $1.00 in the memory of the men from St. Kitts to their families, we could at least show our respect for these men.
  • Andrea (06/04/2014, 20:57) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    My husband and I were there too! In fact, we were in the balcony room on the back corner which has an opening from aft wrapped around to the side. We had clear view of them taking the ropes off the mooring pylon and when they were in the open area at the end of the dock between the two boats. There boat did hit the Silhouette. I have had a really hard time since seeing it happen. I think we can all agree it is truly tragic! Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved.
  • janet (06/04/2014, 22:08) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is just grievous. We were on the Independence of the Seas. I was on my balcony, but only saw the small boat overturned and 3 orange life-saving rings floating around it. I was surprised my ship continued to back out of port seeing this boat overturned between the two massive ships! I had no idea two men were drowning beneath...thought maybe it was an abandoned boat. But still surprised we would not check it out or have it moved before proceeding. I don't know the practices of these maneuvers but it seems we should have waited till this boat cleared before firing the thrusters. My heart breaks for the families of these two men. May that have the Peace that passes understanding and be greatly compensated for their losses! May the arms of Jesus be wide open to these two men!
    I agree with Barbara above to donate to these families...even tho no amount of $$$ can ever replace their loved ones.
  • Suzanne (06/04/2014, 22:19) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I was on the Rccl ship and saw the whole terrible accident and Barbara your idea is great and I have made contact with someone on the island and I hope to find out who they are. Rccl was at fault but when the Silhoette started their engines it was like a tornado in the water and it threw the smaller boat into the back of Silhoette and flipped over and the men were thrown out and sucked under it was awful no one came to help them or look for 40 minutes . Totally unavoidable no one made sure it was all clear you could not miss a 24 foot boat !
  • ann (06/04/2014, 23:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We were also on the Silhouette. It was a very upsetting incident. I too have been praying for those two men as well as their families. I hope that Royal Caribbean is not at fault for this, but reading the comments above from Fly Frog --- I hope that there is a thorough investigation ---
  • oodlesofpoodles (07/04/2014, 08:08) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was on the Silhouette and I believe that Suzanne misspoke. The silhouette did not start her engins for 4 hours after the incedent. The Independence was scheduled to leave before the Silhouette so the engines had not started as yet.The captain of the Silhoustte saw the accident and immediately ordered a boat in the water.We were held in port for 4 hours while the authorities investigated. The incident was recorded on film from the Silhouette's camera's and that was turned over to the authorities before we left port.
  • Sarge (07/04/2014, 14:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was on the independence. The silhouette did not start it's thrusters it was the independence. After the incident I wondered if the smaller boat had stayed in the area because the sihlouette was next ? The pilot of the independence was totally at fault. Poor communication and lack of safety concerns for the workers. Couldn't the pilot put the ship into a DP mode and immediately stop the thrusters ? To say the least it was very disturbing to watch. My prayers are with the families and the guests of both ships that had to observe such a tragedy.
  • cruiser (10/04/2014, 12:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was on the Independence. On deck 4 , dock side. The Silhouette DID start it's thrusters adding to the already moving water of ours. However the Silhouette turned them off almost right away, LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE. I do understand that we could have "drifted' into the dock/rocks and that is why we kept moving away. So I am told but I dont know if I can swallow that. I feel we should have powered down. Bless the families for the loss of the men.
  • Captain Jack (17/04/2014, 13:46) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Should have had their life vest on. The ship signals it's pending departure. The workers should have known they were in a dangerous location. Sad, but not the ship Captain's fault.
  • Chuck (14/08/2014, 22:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder if those late arrivals (I watched people getting for applauded at, and eventually booed, the later they came--they arrived super late) felt any guilt that the ship took off in that harried fashion. Plenty of blame to go around, but...


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.