Two crew members on a Holland America cruise ship tragically lost their lives during an “incident” in the ship's engineering space while the Nieuw Amsterdam was docked at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. The crew members, who remain unidentified, passed away on Friday, prompting an investigation into the cause of the accident by authorities. Holland America expressed their deep sadness over the incident and offered counseling to all crew members on board. The cruise line emphasized that the safety and well-being of both guests and crew are their top priority.

Contrary to initial reports, the company clarified that the crew members did not perish in a shipboard fire. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has taken the lead in the investigation, with the cruise line refraining from providing additional details about the deceased crew members or the progress of the investigation. Crew member deaths are relatively uncommon, with statistics showing that between 2000 and 2019, only 11% of reported deaths on cruise ships were crew members.

The Nieuw Amsterdam set sail from Fort Lauderdale on March 16 for a seven-night voyage, with the tragic incident occurring during the trip. The cruise line has not disclosed which agency is handling the investigation, but has assured the public that they are cooperating fully with authorities. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, four crew members have lost their lives due to non-coronavirus related causes on cruise ships, highlighting the risks faced by those working in the industry.