On Friday, March 22, while Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam ship was at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas, two crew members tragically died in an accidental steam release in an engineering space. The ship’s captain broke down crying and held a moment of silence for the deceased crew members.
The incident has been described as a “steam release” by Holland America, and investigations are currently underway by the Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Dutch Safety Board. A spokesperson for Holland America expressed their deep regret over the deaths and stated that safety is always their top priority.
Following the incident, independent surveyors from the Dutch government reviewed the ship’s systems and confirmed that they were fully operational. Passengers on board were informed of the deaths by the captain over the PA system, leading to a somber mood on what was supposed to be a celebration. Events on board were then canceled.
Holland America has expressed their deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased crew members and all crew on board during this difficult time. The Nieuw Amsterdam accommodates a crew of 929 and can carry 2,106 passengers. Deaths on cruise ships are rare, with a total of 623 reported deaths between 2000 and 2019, with 66 being crew members and 557 being passengers.
