Six injured as giant cruise ships collide off Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Dec 21, 2019, AFP. Six people were injured Friday when two enormous cruise ships operated by US-based Carnival collided off Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the company said, The Jakarta Post reported.

“Oh my God!” a man can be heard saying in a dramatic video of the Carnival Glory crashing into the Carnival Legend as it docked at the popular island resort of Cozumel.

“Someone could have died!” he said.

UPDATE: A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, also was nearly hit by 1 of the Carnival ships. Royal Caribbean says the ship sustained no damage. Video by @pablojair.
DETAILS on the Carnival collision in Cozumel: https://t.co/auHTrdPgI4 pic.twitter.com/xSRW1zDYy9

— Spectrum News 13 (@MyNews13) December 20, 2019

Videos posted online show the 290-meter (952-foot) Glory slowly arcing through the azure water off Cozumel toward the 294-meter (963-foot) Legend, then making impact with a loud boom.

The Legend’s massive bow then scraped along the back of the Glory, leaving the tip of the other ship’s stern a mangled jumble of wreckage.

“Carnival Glory was in the process of docking when it made contact with Carnival Legend which was already docked,” the company said in a statement.

“Six guests with minor injuries have presented themselves to the Carnival Glory medical center for evaluation.”

Carnival said it was still assessing the damage, but insisted there was no impact on the seaworthiness of either ship or their itineraries.

“We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel,” it said.

According to Carnival, the Glory weighs 110,000 tons and has capacity for 2,980 guests and 1,150 crew. The Legend weighs 88,500 tons and has capacity for 2,124 guests and 930 crew.