Disabled Carnival cruise ship being towed to Ensenada, Mexico

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
 
(ALAMEDA, Calif.) — The U.S. Coast Guard remains on the scene of a stranded cruise ship that lost propulsion after a fire 200 miles south of San Diego yesterday.
 
The following updated information are current status as of today:
 
The 952-foot cruise ship Carnival Splendor will be towed to Ensenada, Mexico where it will unload its passengers before continuing to its homeport of Long Beach, Calif. It is scheduled to arrive Nov. 10.
 
The Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, a high endurance cutter based out of Alameda, Calif., will remain with the cruise ship to ensure the health and safety of passengers and crew until it safely reaches Long Beach.
 
The Splendor lost the use of generators after a fire was reported in the generator’s compartment Nov. 8. Initial reports of the fire were received by the U.S. Coast Guard at 8 a.m., Nov. 8. The Coast Guard responded with three cutters, an HC-130 Hercules aircraft, and coordinated a response with a merchant vessel through the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System. In addition, a Mexican Navy 140-foot patrol boat and aircraft responded.
 
The Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center Alameda is currently in contact with all response assets as well as Carnival Cruise Line’s operations’ center. No injuries to passengers or crew have been reported at this time.
 
The fire was discovered in an aft engine room and was extinguished at approximately 9:10 a.m., Nov. 8.
 
The Carnival Splendor is a Panamanian-flagged vessel and sailed out of Long Beach, Calif. en route to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
 
For more updates on the Carnival Splendor, contact Carnival Media Relations at (305) 406-5464, email: media@carnival.com. Family members of passengers and crew may contact 1-888-290-5095 for more information.
By Professional Mariner Staff