Coast Guard Escorting Disabled Cruise Ship To Alabama

The tugs Resolve Pioneer and Dabhol tow and steer the 893-foot Carnival Triumph cruise ship Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2013, in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship is enroute to Mobile, Ala., after an engine room fire a few days prior. [U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Chris Shivock.]

February 12, 2013

by: Andrew Schneider

The Coast Guard says a second tug boat has reached a disabled cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico and is helping tow it to Mobile, Alabama.

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More than 3,000 passengers and a crew of more than 1,000 aboard the Carnival Triumph have had limited services since a fire in the aft engine room Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrew Kendrick in Houston says the ship is currently about 270 miles south of Mobile.

“We have a Coast Guard cutter that’s escorting them, but it’s being towed by commercial tugboats. So one of them’s for steering it, and one’s for actually doing the pulling. They were originally planning to go to Progreso, Mexico, but due to currents and other things, it’s actually going to be easier for them to go up to Mobile.”

The ship continues to operate on backup generators. It’s expected to arrive in Mobile on Thursday.

Carnival Cruise Lines has established a customer service number for family members of those onboard the Triumph. Call 1-888-290-5095 for more information.

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