A cruise ship with 206 people on board, including passengers and crew, ran aground in a bay in the Northeast Greenland National Park on Monday, the Danish Armed Forces’ Arctic Command (JAC) said.

The ‘Ocean Explorer’ got stuck after an accident in the Alpefjord Bay and ‘could not immediately free itself’, the JAC said in a statement.

The nearest ship that could come to the aid of the cruise ship was about 1,200 nautical miles away on Monday, implying that it will not arrive in the area until Friday morning at the earliest, if weather conditions are favorable.

According to preliminary information, no one was injured in the crash that caused the grounding and it appears that the ship did not sustain any damage that could pose a risk to the environment.

“A cruise ship that gets into trouble in the National Park is of course worrying. The nearest help is far away, our units are far away and the weather can be very unfavorable,” said Brian Jensen, JAC chief of operations.

“However, we see no immediate risk to human life or the environment, which is reassuring,” he added.

A government fishing vessel would attempt to remove the cruise ship. It was also announced that a couple tested positive for COVID-19, as revealed by another passenger.

“Everyone is in a good mood. “It’s a bit frustrating, but we are in a beautiful part of the world,” said one of those infected.

The ship carries tourists from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, the United States and South Korea. (JO)