After lower than every week of working and dwelling onboard Norwegian Encore, a crew member has ended his profession at sea.
Based on a launch from the U.S. Division of Justice and a prison affidavit from the FBI, Ntando Sogoni of South Africa was arrested after allegedly attacking a number of individuals aboard the Breakaway-class ship.
The incident, which occurred on the morning of Monday, Could 6, 2024, passed off after the 35-year-old crew member was seen making an attempt to deploy a lifeboat for no clear purpose.
Members of the ship’s safety staff took Sogoni to the onboard medical middle to be mentally and bodily assessed, the place he bodily assaulted a safety guard and a male nurse inside an examination room.
The scuffle then moved to a different examination room, the place Sogoni attacked a 75-year-old lady with a pair of medical scissors, inflicting accidents to her arm, hand, and face. He then wounded two extra safety guards who intervened to detain the crew member earlier than he was safely confined within the onboard jail.
Price Studying: Juneau Cruise Port, Alaska – Overview and Information
The victims’ names haven’t been launched to guard their privateness, however authorities say the accidents weren’t life threatening.
The following morning, on Could 7, the crew member was taken into custody by the FBI shortly after the three,998-guest ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Sogoni’s arrest got here simply two days after he joined the ship in Seattle, Washington, on Sunday, Could 5.
The FBI charged Sagoni with assault with a harmful weapon inside maritime and territorial jurisdiction. If convicted, he faces as much as 10 years in jail and a $250,000 positive for every depend. A federal district courtroom choose will decide his sentence at a later date.
For now, the case is being investigated by the FBI Anchorage Subject Workplace, FBI Juneau Resident Company, and U.S. Coast Guard. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Jack Schmidt is main the prosecution.
No Additional Hazard Onboard Norwegian Encore
Though occasions like this are stunning, they’re very uncommon and never usually one thing to be frightened about. Whereas it’s at all times good to stay conscious of 1’s environment, cruise ships are typically fairly protected, and often possess their very own onboard safety groups and firefighting divisions.
Public areas are additionally usually monitored with surveillance cameras, permitting safety staff members to answer crises shortly and effectively.
Moreover, crew members usually undergo an intense interview and coaching course of, which is supposed to weed out the dangerous seeds earlier than they make it onboard. Of the roughly 1,735 crew members onboard Norwegian Encore, solely Sogoni posed an issue and he was shortly detained and eliminated.
In an interview with KTOO, Juneau’s native information station, FBI Public Affairs Officer Chloe Martin confirmed that there isn’t any additional hazard onboard Norwegian Encore.
“This was an remoted incident, and there’s no risk to different passengers,” mentioned Martin.
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With Sogoni eliminated, the 169,116-gross ton vessel can keep it up with its Alaska season. As of the time of publication, no delays or itinerary adjustments have been introduced because of the alleged assault.
From now till October, Norwegian Encore will probably be providing 7-night cruises to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan in Alaska, in addition to Victoria, British Columbia. All sailings are round-trip from Seattle, Washington.
Norwegian Encore can also be solely one in all 5 ships the cruise line despatched to the area for the busy 2024 season. Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Solar, and Norwegian Spirit are all crusing to Alaska no less than as soon as all through the summer season.
