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Cruise ship guests evacuated after engine room explosion
A cruise ship worker was injured and over 200 passengers and crew were evacuated after a shipboard explosion.
The explosion happened in the engine room of the Ocean Explorer, operated by American Queen Voyages.
One crew member was hospitalized with burns.
It happened while docked in Portland, Maine.
It is believed a generator exploded and caused a fire which has now been extinguished.
All 128 passengers and most of the 82 crewmembers were taken off this ship, said Portland Fire Chief Keith Gautreau.
Early Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard was inspecting the ship to determine if it is still ‘seaworthy.’
The cause of the explosion will be fully investigated.
The Ocean Navigator was due to depart today to St John’s, Canada.
The cruise line announced earlier this year it planned to sell two ships including the Ocean Navigator in a refocused strategy to concentrate on river cruising.
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