Commercial Mariner - Passenger Vessels

One dead, four injured after rogue wave hits cruise ship off Argentina

Baird Maritime

US and Argentine news outlets have reported that one passenger was killed and another four suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a cruise ship was struck by a large wave off the southern coast of Argentina on Tuesday, November 29.

Reports stated that Viking Cruises' Norwegian-flagged expedition ship Viking Polaris was underway off Ushuaia some 3,200 kilometres south of Buenos Aires when it was hit by what has been described as a rogue wave.

No details have yet been provided on the exact cause of the death of the lone fatality, though a number of guests said the impact broke some of the ship's windows.

The four injured passengers have since been treated by the ship's embarked medical staff.

A Viking representative confirmed that the company has already notified the family of the deceased guest and is offering assistance. Viking also said it is "investigating the facts surrounding the incident."