Cruise ship rams iceberg

By Anastasia Tomazhenkova: A Norwegian ship started a cruise in the Antarctic. There were 300 people on board. In the middle of the trip the ship's motor failed and the vessel hit an iceberg. Officials claimed that there were no injuries.

Photo: Cruise ship rams iceberg

The Hurtigruten cruise line company spokesman reported ship had engine problems Friday and a brief power outage near Browns Bluff in the Antarctic. Then the engine started again and the liner continued on its route.

The ship was headed for King George Island where it will be inspected for damage.

One of the passengers Robert O'Connor, a 26-year-old American from South Bend, Indiana, said the ship suddenly lost power and began to drift straight toward an iceberg.

"It bent the railing and a lifeboat was completely crushed," he said.

It was unclear whether the vessel would continue the tour.

Last month, the MS Explorer - an adventure travel ship on a 19-day cruise off Antarctica - rammed an iceberg, forcing its 154 passengers and crew into lifeboats in the middle of the night. They waited more than three hours in icy waters until they were rescued by another cruise ship.