Image Credit: Ushuaia24TV
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High winds in one of the world’s southernmost cruise ports led to a tense moment on Tuesday, when two expedition vessels made contact at the dock — a reminder of how quickly weather can disrupt even routine port operations.
Strong Winds Trigger Incident in Argentina
The collision occurred at the Port of Ushuaia on January 6, 2025, as the area was hit by intense wind conditions.
Local outlet El Diario del Fin del Mundo reported that sustained winds were blowing at around 30 knots, with sudden gusts climbing to 40 knots (about 46 mph) — conditions that can be especially challenging for smaller expedition ships tied up at the pier.
Ships Involved in the Collision
The two vessels involved were:
- World Voyager, operated by Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Viking Octantis, part of Viking Expeditions
Both ships were docked when the incident unfolded.
How the Collision Happened
According to reports, the incident began when World Voyager, a roughly 10,000-gross-ton expedition ship, broke free from its moorings.
What went wrong:
- A mooring rope snapped under the force of the wind
- The ship was pushed off position
- World Voyager first struck the dock
- Moments later, it collided with Viking Octantis, which is significantly larger at 30,150 gross tons
Video shared by Ushuaia 24 Noticias captured the sequence, showing the smaller ship being pushed sideways before making contact with the neighboring vessel.
Crew Response Helped Limit the Impact
World Voyager’s crew — numbering around 125 members — reacted quickly once the ship came loose.
Despite taking evasive action to reduce the force of the impact, the extreme wind conditions left little room for full control.
Local reports credit the crew’s fast response with preventing more serious damage, even though avoiding contact entirely wasn’t possible.
Unfortunately, incidents like this aren’t unheard of during severe weather.
Over the past year alone, ships including Norwegian Epic, Celebrity Edge, and MSC Seascape have all reportedly broken free from moorings in high winds.
Damage Assessment: Minor but Noticeable
The good news: no injuries were reported among passengers or crew on either ship.
Both vessels underwent technical inspections following the collision, and authorities confirmed there was no structural damage that would make sailing unsafe.
Reported damage included:
- Viking Octantis:
- Minor damage to a rear railing on an exterior deck
- World Voyager:
- A crack in the bow (front of the ship)
- No water ingress
- Damage located above the waterline, preserving seaworthiness
Ships Resume Their Antarctic Voyages
Despite the scare, both expedition ships were cleared to continue sailing later that same evening.
Current itineraries:
- Viking Octantis
- Sailing on an 11-night expedition
- Route includes the Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula, and Cape Horn (Chile)
- Scheduled to return to Ushuaia on January 17
- World Voyager
- Operating a 10-night expedition
- Visiting the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Cruise tracking data shows both ships now traveling at normal speeds between 13 and 16 knots.
Port Operations Continue as Normal
Despite the dramatic incident, operations at the Port of Ushuaia were not significantly disrupted.
The following ships docked as scheduled on January 7:
- Silver Whisper
- Celebrity Equinox
A Reminder of Antarctic Cruising Realities
Ports like Ushuaia — often called the “gateway to Antarctica” — routinely deal with extreme and unpredictable weather.
While expedition crews are highly trained for harsh environments, incidents like this highlight the challenges of operating in such conditions.
Thankfully, this collision ended with minor damage, no injuries, and minimal disruption — an outcome that could have been far worse given the strength of the storm.
