World Voyager Breaks Loose in Ushuaia, Hits Viking Octantis

Two expedition cruise ships, World Voyager and Viking Octantis, collided while alongside at the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, on Jan. 6, 2025 after high winds caused World Voyager to break free from its moorings, according to multiple reports.

The incident resulted in minor damage to both vessels, and both continued with their scheduled Antarctica departures after inspections cleared them to sail.

How the contact happened at the berth

Local reporting, including El Diario del Fin del Mundo, said wind gusts around 40 knots contributed to World Voyager breaking loose and drifting into the stationary Viking Octantis. Accounts also said World Voyager struck the dock before its bow made contact with an aft area of Viking Octantis.

Video shared online by local outlet Ushuaia 24 Noticias showed World Voyager swinging off position and making contact with the Viking ship as conditions deteriorated.

Reports said World Voyager’s mooring ropes snapped under the strain. Crew members on World Voyager carried out emergency maneuvers intended to reduce the impact, but the wind limited their ability to avoid contact entirely.

Wind, rain, and visibility during the incident

Carl Erickson, AccuWeather Director of Forecasting Operations, described the conditions in an emailed statement to USA TODAY as “blustery” and said the area saw periods of heavy rain. Erickson added: “Weather observations from the airport in Ushuaia, near the port, reported winds gusting to 54.1 mph (47 kt) shortly after 2 p.m.”

Erickson said visibility briefly fell below one mile during heavy rain, and that gusty conditions lingered into the evening and overnight hours, with another measured gust over 40 knots later in the afternoon.

Separate reporting described sustained winds near 30 knots at the time of the incident, a level cited as just below a threshold that typically mandates port closures.

Damage reported and inspection outcome

After the contact, both ships were inspected for structural integrity. Reports described limited, localized damage, and said no major structural issues were found.

• World Voyager: El Diario del Fin del Mundo reported a crack in the ship’s bow. The vessel was inspected and later cleared to continue operations.
• Viking Octantis: The same outlet reported minor damage to an exterior deck area, including damage to an external deck railing on an outer deck.
• Clearance to sail: Technical inspections were completed in Ushuaia and both ships were cleared to proceed with their scheduled Antarctica itineraries.

No injuries were reported.

What the operators said

Atlas Ocean Voyages, the operator of World Voyager, told USA TODAY the incident occurred while the ship was in port during high winds. In an emailed statement, the company said: “No guests were on board at the time and there were no injuries to crew.” Atlas added that the vessel was inspected and continued sailing its planned itinerary.

No official statement from Viking was included in available reports, and Viking did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Antarctica departures continued

Both ships proceeded with expedition programs from Ushuaia, a primary gateway port for Antarctica sailings.

Viking Octantis continued an 11-night Antarctic cruise that includes crossing the Drake Passage and exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, with destinations subject to weather and operational conditions and potentially adjusted during the voyage.

World Voyager continued a 10-night Antarctica itinerary described as an Antarctica Discovery Cruise. Reports said the voyage includes the South Shetland Islands and multiple days, including four days of exploration, along the Antarctic Peninsula, and also includes a Drake Passage crossing.

The ships involved

Viking Octantis entered service in 2021 as Viking’s first purpose-built expedition ship and is described as roughly 30,000 gross tons, with one report listing it at 30,150 gross tons.

World Voyager is described as a 10,000-gross-ton ship that was built in 2020 at West Sea Shipyard in Portugal. The vessel carries about 200 passengers and is part of Mystic Cruises’ Explorer Series, operating expedition itineraries for Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Ushuaia’s exposure to sudden weather and peak-season pressure

Ushuaia’s location near Cape Horn makes it susceptible to fast-changing wind events that can complicate docking and mooring operations, according to meteorological authorities cited in reports.

The port also experiences heavy traffic during the Antarctic season. In late December 2025, Ushuaia handled 19 cruise ship arrivals over a three-day period and about 10,600 passengers visited the city during that stretch, according to figures cited in reports. Ushuaia’s Tourism Secretary, Viviana Manfredotti, has described the cruise sector as an important driver of local jobs and business activity in the Tierra del Fuego region.

Reports also noted that weather-related mooring incidents have occurred elsewhere, citing a June 2025 event in which Celebrity Edge broke free during a wind squall in Juneau, Alaska, and a May incident the same year involving Norwegian Epic in Sicily.

After the Ushuaia collision, both World Voyager and Viking Octantis departed on schedule following inspections, keeping attention on mooring practices and wind limits in a port where conditions can deteriorate quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What caused the collision between Viking Octantis and World Voyager?

Multiple reports said strong winds caused World Voyager to break free from its moorings and drift into the stationary Viking Octantis while both were alongside in Ushuaia.

How strong were the winds in Ushuaia during the incident?

Reports cited sustained winds near 30 knots with higher gusts around 40 knots. AccuWeather said winds near the port gusted to 54.1 mph (47 knots) shortly after 2 p.m., with additional gusts over 40 knots later in the afternoon.

Were passengers on board World Voyager at the time of the collision?

No. Atlas Ocean Voyages said, “No guests were on board at the time and there were no injuries to crew.”

How severe was the damage to the ships?

Reports characterized the damage as minor. El Diario del Fin del Mundo reported a crack in World Voyager’s bow and damage to an external deck railing on Viking Octantis. Technical inspections found no major structural damage, and both ships were cleared to sail.

Did the ships cancel their Antarctica cruises, and what were the itineraries?

No. After inspections in Ushuaia, Viking Octantis continued an 11-night Antarctica expedition that includes a Drake Passage crossing and exploration along the Antarctic Peninsula, with destinations subject to conditions. World Voyager continued a 10-night Antarctica itinerary that includes the Drake Passage, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands.