Video: Strong winds cause contact between Atlas and Viking cruise ships in Ushuaia

Two expedition cruise vessels made contact in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, after severe wind conditions caused one of the ships to break free from its moorings.

El Diario del Fin del Mundo reported that the incident occurred when World Voyager, operated by Atlas Ocean Voyages, broke free of its mooring during a sudden 40-knot wind gust.

At the time of the incident, Ushuaia was experiencing sustained winds of approximately 30 knots, just below the reported 32-knot limit at which port authorities typically suspend operations.

After its mooring lines parted, World Voyager drifted towards the nearby Viking Octantis, which was secured at an adjacent berth. As the vessel moved, the port bow of World Voyager came into contact with the stern of Viking Octantis.

While often described as a collision in early reports, the event did not involve a head-on impact between manoeuvring ships, but rather a brief unintended contact, an incident technically classified as an allision.

Footage shared by Ushuaia 24 Noticias shows the moment of contact, as the crew of World Voyager executed an emergency manoeuvre to prevent further damage to both vessels.

Viking Octantis sustained minor damage to one of its external decks, while World Voyager suffered a crack in its bow plating.

Technical inspections subsequently confirmed that neither ship sustained structural or safety-critical damage, and both were cleared to continue their scheduled operations by port authorities. Each vessel proceeded with its planned Antarctic expedition programmes.

Viking Octantis is currently operating an 11-night expedition voyage that includes a crossing of the Drake Passage before exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. Specific landing sites and exploration areas on the Antarctic itinerary are subject to prevailing weather and ice conditions and are determined during the voyage.

The 30,000-ton Viking Octantis was delivered in 2021 and was the first purpose-built expedition vessel introduced by Viking. The ship is designed for polar operations and carries a range of scientific and exploration equipment for high-latitude cruising.

World Voyager departed on Atlas Ocean Voyages’ ten-night expedition Antarctic Discovery Cruise featuring four days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as a crossing of the Drake Passage and a visit to the South Shetland Islands. Built in 2020, the 200-guest World Voyager forms part of Atlas’ Explorer-class fleet, which was designed for global expedition cruising in remote regions.