Two crew members are dead after ‘engine room EXPOSION’ on cruise in the Bahamas after setting sail from Florida

A Holland America luxury cruise from Florida to the Bahamas ended in horror for the crew when two of them died on board.

The 2,100-seat Nieuw Amsterdam had docked at Half Moon Bay in Little San Salvador when the “incident” took place in what the company described as an “engineering space” on Friday.

The ship had left Fort Lauderdale on March 16 for a seven-night voyage.

Florida Maritime Lawyer Jim Walker He was sent a photo of what crew members said was the result of an explosion in a steam compensator while the men were working nearby.

He said the explosion released steam into the engine room where the two men were trapped and scalded to death.

travel blogger Laine Doss He was on board when the news was announced to the passengers.

“Today, at 3 pm, when the Captain asked for our attention, I was convinced it was a weather announcement,” she wrote.

Instead, he announced that two crew members had died in an accident in the engine room.

‘I was working on my computer in the Ocean Bar, a lovely place with panoramic views. Suddenly the pleasant chatter and clinking of glasses turned somber as we heard the captain’s voice crack as he announced the news.

‘A woman started crying. The rest of us raised our glasses in tribute.

In a statement, the cruise line said authorities had been notified, the cause of the accident was being investigated and counseling was being offered to crew members.

“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our team members at this difficult time,” they added.

“The safety and well-being of all guests and crew is the company’s absolute priority.”

“The staff keep a smile on their faces and make sure their passengers receive excellent service, but it must be very difficult for them, they are truly professionals,” passenger Bonnie Shapiro wrote on Facebook.

The ship has suffered a series of accidents, including a grounding in Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico, in 2017, when strong winds broke its mooring lines, and a collision with sister ship MS Oosterdam two years later while docking in Vancouver, Canada.

Walker said the crew members were from the Philippines and their families would likely receive little compensation.

“Holland America says it notified ‘the appropriate authorities’ and is currently investigating the incident,” it said.

‘They did not identify the investigating agency or say whether it will release additional information.

“Cruise lines that investigate accidents of this type keep their findings and conclusions secret.”