Giant Wave Hits Cruise Liner

A cruise ship bound for New York City from the Bahamas was diverted for repairs to South Carolina after it was struck by a huge wave, which broke windows, flooded cabins and caused minor injuries to four passengers, according to the operator, Norwegian Cruise Line. The Norwegian Dawn, a cruise ship that can carry more than 2,000 passengers, left the Bahamas on Thursday. Encountering what the company called "extremely rough weather," the ship was "hit by a freak wave that caused two windows to break in two different cabins." That resulted in the flooding of 62 cabins, it said. The injured passengers sustained cuts and bruises, and when the sea became calmer at dawn, the ship was directed to the Port of Charleston for repairs, the company said. It arrived in Charleston yesterday afternoon. The ship had been scheduled to arrive in New York today, but the company said last night that it would arrive about noon tomorrow.

Norwegian Dawn
Vital Statistics:
*-Entered service: December 2002
*-Gross tonnage: 91,740-grt
*-Length: 965 feet
*-Width: 105 feet
*-Propulsion: 2 Diesel electric – Azipod system
*-Maximum Speed: 25 knots
*-Decks: 15
*-Cabins: 1,120
*-Passenger Capacity: 2,224 double occupancy
*-Crew capacity: 1,318
*-Flag: Bahamas