1998 St Maarten Cruise Ship Crash

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Monarch of the Seas Grounding Incident

Overview

On December 15, 1998, the Royal Caribbean Line cruise ship Monarch of the Seas grounded on a coral reef off St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. The incident resulted in significant damage to the ship and injuries to several passengers.

Chronology of Events

* **December 15, 1998, 10:00 AM:** Monarch of the Seas grounded on a coral reef while attempting to leave Philipsburg, St. Maarten. * **December 16, 1998:** Passengers were evacuated to shore. * **December 17, 1998:** The ship was refloated and towed to Puerto Rico for repairs. * **February 28, 2007:** A report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the grounding was caused by a combination of factors, including navigational errors and equipment malfunctions. * **March 26, 1999:** Royal Caribbean International canceled nine cruises on Monarch of the Seas. * **September 1999:** The ship was returned to service after undergoing extensive repairs.

Aftermath

The grounding of Monarch of the Seas resulted in several consequences: * **Damage to the ship:** The grounding caused extensive damage to the hull, propellers, and other components of the ship. * **Injuries to passengers:** Several passengers were injured during the grounding, including some who were cut by broken glass and other debris. * **Cancellation of cruises:** Royal Caribbean International canceled several cruises on Monarch of the Seas following the incident. * **Lawsuits:** Several lawsuits were filed against Royal Caribbean Line by passengers who were injured or whose cruises were canceled.

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