Two crewmen died March 22 in an explosion and steam release in the engineering spaces of Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship in the Bahamas.
Third engineer Joseph Terrado and wiper Wawan Gusnawan “were reportedly installing filters when a steam compensator, unrelated to their duties, exploded,” according to attorney Jim Walker of the law firm Walker & O’Neill, South Miami, writing on his website cruiselawnews.com.
Walker wrote that the accident happened around 9 a.m. on Friday while the while the 935’x105’ Nieuw Amsterdam was at Holland America’s private Bahamas destination at Half Moon Cay.
Terrado, a Philippine citizen and Gusnawan from Indonesia, were “reportedly installing filters when a steam compensator, unrelated to their duties, exploded,” according to Walker, whose firm often represents cruise ship passengers and crew in legal cases. “The part which failed is called a ‘steam bellow.’ The official name of the defective equipment is a ‘thermal expansion joint’.’’
After the steam release, “the bridge reportedly ordered an alarm, closed the watertight doors, and shut down the ventilation to the space before it was evacuated,” according to Walker. The lawyer posted photos of the accident scene that were “provided by cruise employees who wishes to remain anonymous.”
“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with our team members’ families at this difficult time. The safety, security and welfare of all guests and crew are the company’s absolute priority. We are offering counseling services to team members who may have been affected by this incident,” the cruise line said in a statement.
The company said the accident is under investigation by Bahama authorities. The Nieuw Amsterdam departed on a week-long cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 16, stopping Half Moon Cay on its way back to Fort Lauderdale.
The captain “was audibly crying,” she told the network. "It was shocking to hear that.”
