Close Encounter!

[Michael Gallagher]

Entry in Bridge Log dated 30 May 1983: “...close encounter with a growler. Scraping noises heard in the Engine Room”.

[Rob Lightbody]

Entry in Bridge Log dated 30 May 1983: “...close encounter with a growler. Scraping noises heard in the Engine Room”.

Is that all it says!?

What's a growler?

I presume they inspected the hull or something?!

[Peter Mugridge]

Rob, a growler is a small iceberg.

So yes, I imagine a hull inspection would have been carried out PDQ...!!

[Chris Thompson]

Whilst working on the Sagafjord on the Alaska cruises we would make morning visits to Glacier Bay, I distinctly remember the 'chalk on a blackboard' noise of ice scraping the hull as we gently pushed small sheets out of our way. Particularly attention getting when your cabin is below the waterline!!!!!

[Michael Gallagher]

I heard the Vistafjord used to go right next to the ice in the Arctic and passengers would step onto it.

Both Sagafjord and Vistafjord had ice strengthened hulls.

[Chris Thompson]

Vista and Saga were both ice strengthened, I did one trip on the Vista where the bow was pushed into the Arctic Ice sheet accompanied by an announcement of 'North Pole is 600 miles that way!'. The Sagafjord always went much closer in to the Glaciers in Alaska than any other ships......

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Marco Polo of course is another such. I don't know whether she nowadays seeks out the Arctic ice -- but she does go cruising in those areas.

[Andy Holloway]

I heard the Vistafjord used to go right next to the ice in the Arctic and passengers would step onto it.

Both Sagafjord and Vistafjord had ice strengthened hulls.

I have done two trips on Vista when we went up as far as the ice edge, once in beautiful sunshine and once In sea mist with very limited visibility.
For both occasions there were strict safety procedures in place,  we very slowly approached and just gently nudged the bow up against the ice edge a couple of times, before pulling away slowly to a safe distance before turning around and heading off south!

A remarkable experience on what was a remarkable ship. I think that the Captain on both occasions was Capt. Leif Rodall (" I'm so proud to be your Captain").

As has been said, Vista & Saga were both built with strengthened bows that allowed for just such occasions, something I don't think any modern ship, expedition ships excepted, have.

[Chris Thompson]

Just to add to the Sagafjord's abilities, in 1987 I was working on the MV Regent Sea (formerly 1957 Gripsholm)
on the Alaska run.
When in Glacier bay we would sit about a mile off of the glaciers whilst the greek captain would be on the tannoy saying how dangerous it was to be any closer, meanwhile the passengers would be complaining that they could not get decent photos!
Then along would come the Sagafjord steaming happily by right up to the Glacier face blasting her horn to get the thing calving.........
Upon direct questioning by pax..."how come WE don't go closer" my response would be "next time go Cunard!!"

[Thomas Hypher]

Just to add to the Sagafjord's abilities, in 1987 I was working on the MV Regent Sea (formerly 1957 Gripsholm)
on the Alaska run.
When in Glacier bay we would sit about a mile off of the glaciers whilst the greek captain would be on the tannoy saying how dangerous it was to be any closer, meanwhile the passengers would be complaining that they could not get decent photos!
Then along would come the Sagafjord steaming happily by right up to the Glacier face blasting her horn to get the thing calving.........
Upon direct questioning by pax..."how come WE don't go closer" my response would be "next time go Cunard!!"

It's surprising the old MV Gripsholm didn't have some ice strengthening too given her original owners and transatlantic route from Sweden (MV Stockholm having an ice strengthened bow for example). I wonder if she fell out of the ice class certification (can happen if the hull is old and thinner than it was from ice operations for example and requires regular re-certification as far as I know) and wasn't legally allowed to do what the two "fjords" did as I find it hard to believe she didn't originally have that capability.


Wonder whether MV Kungsholm (1966) had any ice strengthening? And MV Kungsholm (1953) for that matter?

[Chris Thompson]

The Regent sea ex Gripsholm was in a pretty ropey state when I was on her. As the Navarino she had been a good earner in the Mediterranean, unfortunately she had a serious fire which put her in to a floating dry dock.....which sank! She apparently laid at about a 45 degree angle on her port side for a long period.
Regent Cruise lines in their search for a bargain purchased her and put her back in to service.
On the lower decks portside you could smell the imbedded dampness! Plus we would often experience plumbing breaks due to the corroded pipework. I once got a tour of the engine room and jets of seawater could be seen here and there, the Engineers assuring me that the pumps could handle it!!!
Real shame as she had formerely been a grand ship, the entrance to the casino - formerely First Class smoking room, the glue from the lettering sill being in place - was made from black marble with the most fabulous inlaid brass viking ship over the doors. I actually had to harang the Hotel manager to get a deckhand to come and polish it up to it's former glory!!

[Thomas Hypher]

The Regent sea ex Gripsholm was in a pretty ropey state when I was on her. As the Navarino she had been a good earner in the Mediterranean, unfortunately she had a serious fire which put her in to a floating dry dock.....which sank! She apparently laid at about a 45 degree angle on her port side for a long period.
Regent Cruise lines in their search for a bargain purchased her and put her back in to service.
On the lower decks portside you could smell the imbedded dampness! Plus we would often experience plumbing breaks due to the corroded pipework. I once got a tour of the engine room and jets of seawater could be seen here and there, the Engineers assuring me that the pumps could handle it!!!
Real shame as she had formerely been a grand ship, the entrance to the casino - formerely First Class smoking room, the glue from the lettering sill being in place - was made from black marble with the most fabulous inlaid brass viking ship over the doors. I actually had to harang the Hotel manager to get a deckhand to come and polish it up to it's former glory!!

I'd heard of the drydock incident, but not about the fire and how bad a condition she was in with Regent. That probably explains why she didn't do what the "fjords" did even if she was built with the capability. I wouldn't have risked it if in command of her, heck I wouldn't have taken her in sight of ice! No wonder she sank after being laid up and suffering the indignity of being looted on the way to the scrappers, it must've been a relief to her to sink and not suffer more indignity of being ripped apart on a beach somewhere if one can personify a ship without getting ridiculous! Very sad she was in such poor condition with Regent and that not many people onboard seemed to care (you being an exception)...as long as she made money for them I suppose that was the goal given the world revolves around money.