Passenger killed as rogue wave hits Antarctic cruise ship

American woman, 62, struck by glass from broken cabin windows during storm

The Viking Polaris anchored in Ushuaia, southern Argentina, on Thursday. The Argentinian authorities are investigating the fatal incident. AFP

An American woman was killed and four other passengers injured when a huge wave struck a cruise ship on an Antarctic cruise.

The Viking Polari was sailing towards the port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina when the incident took place, the Argentinian authorities said.

The 62-year-old woman was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late on Tuesday during a storm.

The ship suffered some damage and arrived in Ushuaia, 3,100km south of Buenos Aires, the next day.

“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident,” Viking said.

“We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies.”

Neither the statement nor the Argentinian Naval Prefecture identified the woman or her hometown.

Viking called it a “rogue wave incident” and said the four other passengers’ injuries were not life-threatening.

The cruise ship is anchored near Ushuaia, where a federal court has opened a case to determine what happened.

The company indicated on its website that to explore remote regions of the world they have “two purpose-built, state-of-the-art small expedition-class ships: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris.”

The Viking Polaris, a vessel that has luxury facilities and was built in 2022, can carry 378 passengers and 256 crew members.