MS Alta grounded on reef in Galapagos

[sunnydaze]

In case any of you are booked on the MS Alta and you haven't heard yet, the vessel ran aground this past Wed. night near Camano island with 16 Canadian passengers and 8 crew. No one was hurt, the extent of the ecological impact is still undetermined. Fingers are pointing in various directions.
Our travel operator actually called us and told us about it. Quasar supposedly already has another boat ok'd to take it's place, the Lammerlaw trimaran, so we're told our July trip is not affected.

There are stories in the news if you search for it, even a picture of the boat on it's side in the water.

Trip insurance sounds pretty good right about now.

 

[mrfixitchapman]

CBC News - Toronto - Canadians safe after yacht hits Galapagos reef

DC

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Hi Sunnydaze - you can keep the shades on and smile at the dive gods - the Lammer Law is officially on with her first dive charter starting in July 10-17, although she will have another charter in late june. She is in the yard being refitted and should come out in 6 weeks or so looking better than ever. Apparently the insurance company is still planning to rescue the Alta and intends to rebuild her, but that will probably mean she will not be back in service this year !

 

[dpaustex]

I received an e-mail from Paul @ Quasar, and apparently the insurance company left the Alta grounded too long, and the sea actually reclaimed her. The Lammer Law will not be going into service, as the Ecuadorian government asked Quasar Expeditions for an environmental impact statement to put her in service. Quasar has declined to do it, for business reasons. This, according to the saleperson at Quasar.

I sailed on the Alta last October, and really liked the boat. It is a horrible loss.

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

I owe an apology to SunnyDaze above when I assured him that Lammer Law would be operating - I sincerely believed it myself and we had several full boat charters booked on her. However for multiple reasons she is no longer an option and it leaves a lot of people stranded. I also posted a response to this sad loss on another forum but if you have found yourself stranded by these events, we have been working with a variety of other Galapagos liveaboards and do have space on a number of departures this summer and Fall. Checkout our website DIVE ADVICE TRAVEL - Welcome to Dive Advice Travel or contact me directly and I hope I can help anyone who is still looking to get to Darwin + Wolf this year.