Seattle, WA – Two Holland America cruise ship workers tragically lost their lives when a steam compensator exploded in the engine room while the ship was anchored near the Bahamas.
The workers, identified as engineer Joseph Terrado and wiper Wawan Gusnawan by maritime lawyer Jim Walker, were victims of a catastrophic explosion aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam ship. The incident occurred around 9am on Friday, leading to the tragic deaths of the two crew members.
Passenger Laine Doss recounted how the captain informed passengers of the deaths over the ship’s announcement system, causing a somber atmosphere to engulf the entire vessel. The crew responded to the steam release alarm by closing water-tight doors and shutting down ventilation before evacuating, unfortunately leaving Terrado and Gusnawan still inside the engine room.
According to Walker, the two crew members were not equipped with breathing devices and were unable to manually open the hydraulic doors, resulting in their suffocation due to lack of oxygen and exposure to hot steam.
Terrado, a Filipino national, and Gusnawan, from Indonesia, were in the engine room installing filters when the unrelated steam compensator malfunctioned, causing the catastrophic explosion. Walker emphasized that a series of mistakes in response to the accident led to the untimely deaths of the two workers.
Holland America released a statement expressing deep sadness over the incident and stating that the safety and welfare of all guests and crew members remain their top priority. The cruise line is currently working with authorities to investigate the cause of the explosion.
The Nieuw Amsterdam’s homeport is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the ship set sail on March 16 for a seven-night voyage. Counseling services are being offered to anyone affected by the tragic event, as the families of Terrado and Gusnawan mourn the loss of their loved ones.