Two Crew Members on Florida-based Cruise Line Die in Ship’s Engineering Space

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Two crew members on a Holland America cruise ship died during an “incident” in the ship’s engineering space, the cruise line said.

The unidentified crew members died Friday while the Florida-based Nieuw Amsterdam was at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Holland America said in a statement.

Authorities were notified and the cause of the accident is being investigated, the cruise line said. Crew members were being offered counseling.

“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with our team members’ families at this difficult time,” the statement said. “The safety, security and welfare of all guests and crew are the company’s absolute priority.”

The cruise line did not offer any further details about the crew members. It later said the Bahamas Maritime Authority was leading the investigation. The ship set sail out of Fort Lauderdale on March 16 for a seven-night trip.

The workers’ compensation benefits for the crew members families would likely be covered under the federal Jones Act, a U.S. maritime law that governs injuries on ships. Florida’s comp laws probably would not apply, Jones Act experts have said.

Photo: A similar Holland America cruise ship in 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)