Carnival Triumph Breaks Loose from Dock in Mobile, One Shipyard Worker Missing [UPDATE]

The Carnival Triumph seen resting against a cargo vessel at Signal International’s shipyard, April 3, 2013. The vessel pinned here is the Wheeler, a dredger operated by the United States Army Corps. of Engineers. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

Update: Exclusive new video of the Carnival Triumph adrift can be found HERE. 

Update: The Carnival Triumph has been moved to the Alabama Cruise Terminal, the same spot where the more than 4,000 passengers disembarked in February.

Update: The U.S. Coast Guard says that watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at 1:45 p.m. that a BAE Systems employee went missing but was not believed to be aboard the Carnival Triumph when the vessel broke free from its mooring at the BAE shipyard during strong winds. The missing employee is reported as a black male in his 40s and reportedly was not wearing a life jacket, the Coast Guard said. One other BAE employee was recovered safely.

The ship is now reportedly resting against the Army Corps of Engineer’s dredger, Wheeler, at the Signal International shipyard located across the Mobile River from BAE.

The tug New Wednesday is currently on scene stabilizing the Triumph, and four additional tug vessels are en route to assist with stabilization operations, the Coast Guard says.

The Coast Guard has issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast for mariners to keep a look out for the missing BAE employee on the Mobile River.

In a statement late Wednesday, Carnival said all 600 crew members and 200 contractors who were working aboard the ship have been accounted for. There are no reports of injuries, the statement added.

Update: Carnival Cruise Lines has confirmed to gCaptain:

Due to strong winds in Mobile, Ala., Carnival Triumph, which was docked at a Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings. The ship drifted and is currently resting against a cargo vessel. Tug boats and the U.S.Coast Guard are on site.

Mobile Fire-Rescue Dept. has confirmed that USAR search dogs have been brought in to assist with search of missing BAE employee.  The employee was believed to be in a nearby guard shack that was blown over in the storm.

MFRD added it has now turned over the recovery operation to the Mobile Police Dept., USCG and Mobile Co Sheriffs Flotilla.

The Carnival Triumph is resting against a cargo vessel at Signal International’s shipyard, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Original: News 5 (WKRG.com) is reporting that the Carnival Triumph has broken loose from the docks at BAE Shipyard in Mobile, AL and may have sustained some damage. According to News 5, there is a hole on the right side of the stern.

Weather reports show a strong storm system just passed through the area.

The following are recent tweets from the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department:

The Carnival Triumph was undergoing repairs after an engine fire left it adrift in theGulf of Mexico for five days in February with over 4,000 passengers aboard.

Are you there? Email photos and comments to [email protected]

Here’s a photo of showing Carnival Triumph tied up at BAE last week, facing west:

The map below shows the approximate location of Carnival Triumph at BAE (right marker). The marker on the left is the approximate location of where the Triumph ended up, facing SSW.

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