Two Holland America employees who died in a cruise ship’s engineering space were allegedly killed by a steam explosion – and the vessel’s emotional captain broke down when he announced the tragedy to the passengers.
Engineer Joseph Terrado of the Philippines and Wawan Gusnawan of Indonesia, a wiper, were killed in the horrific accident aboard the Florida-based Nieuw Amsterdam while docked in the Bahamas on Friday, Miami attorney Jim Walker told WPLG.
“There was an accidental steam release in an engineering space on board Nieuw Amsterdam, which sadly resulted in the death of two crew members,” Holland America said in a statement, NBC News reported.
4 The aftermath inside the engine room of the cruise ship following the explosion. Walker & O’Neill Maritime Lawyers
The Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Dutch Safety Board are investigating the exact cause of the accident, the company added.
One of the passengers said the captain announced the deaths of the two crewmen.
“We were celebrating the last day of the cruise,” Laine Doss told the outlet, saying the jubilant mood changed “to something extremely somber” when the captain came on the PA system.
“He broke down crying. There was a moment of silence that the captain requested. And that entire scenario did affect the entire cruise,” she said.
“Things were canceled, joyous events were canceled, and we really just thought about mortality — the people who perished on the ship,” Doss added.
Walker alleged that a mechanical failure triggered the explosion of a steam compensator, adding that the response by workers may have led to the victims getting trapped in an area where oxygen depleted as it filled with steam vented at 356 degrees Fahrenheit, the Dutch NL Times reported.
4 A thermal expansion joint reportedly exploded as the two workers were in the engine room. Walker & O’Neill Maritime Lawyers
The attorney based his allegations on statements and images sent to him by Holland America workers who wished to remain anonymous, according to the outlet.
The company said crew members were being offered counseling.
Dutch government inspectors determined the Nieuw Amsterdam to be “fully operable,” and this was “confirmed” by the US Coast Guard, Holland America told NBC News.
4 The workers died while the Florida-based Nieuw Amsterdam was at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. ANDY NEWMAN/HAL
A Coast Guard rep said she was looking into the statement and was unable to immediately confirm it, according to the outlet.
“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this event,” the company said. “We’ve been in contact with the families of both team members and are offering our support to them and to all of our crew at this difficult time.”
4 Holland America released a statement saying they are “deeply saddened” by the crew members’ deaths. Andy Newman/HAL
The ship, which carries up to 2,106 passengers and operates under a Dutch flag, departed the private Half Moon Cay, also known as Little San Salvador Island, in the Bahamas for Fort Lauderdale a few hours after the accident.
Authorities from the Netherlands also were sent to the Bahamas to investigate the fatal accident, NL Times reported.
The Post has reached out to Holland America for comment.
Two Holland America workers who died on cruise were allegedly boiled in steam blast
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