SS Norway Boiler Room Explosion Claims Seven Lives
On the morning of Sunday, May 25, 2003, passengers onboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines' (NCL) vessel, S/S Norway awoke to a loud boom, as the vessel returned from seven-day Caribbean cruise to its homeport in Miami, Fla. The noise, which came from the vessel's engine room, is believed to be caused by a steam leak from one of the 41-year-old ship's boilers. The explosion, has, at press time, claimed the lives of seven crewmembers, the most recent being Ramon Villarais, 39, who was employed as an engine room stoker. According to a statement issued by NCL on May 28, 2003, the following six additional crewmembers perished in the tragedy: Ramil Bernal…
NCL Accident Causes Death of Seventh Crewmember
According to a statement issued by Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), the company reported that a seventh crewmember has perished as a result of the explosion that occurred onboard the line’s S/S Norway on May 25. Known as Ramon Villarais, the 39-year-old crewmember was employed by the line as an engine room stoker from Bulacan in the Philippines. He had worked with NCL for eight years, always on the Norway. “Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers go out to Ramon Villarais' family, those who are injured and to the families of those who lost their lives,” the line said in a press statement. Since the explosion onboard the vessel’s boiler room occurred last week in the Port of Miami, nine crewmembers remain hospitalized.
