The Spirit of Nantucket was on a 10-day cruise from Alexandria, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina, when at dawn it hit something and began taking on water on an intercoastal waterway near Virginia Beach, Virginia.  There is a substantial gash in the hull that is allowing approximately 50-55 gallons of water a minute into the ship.  The captain took the appropriate action and ran the ship aground in the waterway to prevent it from sinking.  All 66 passengers have been evacuated and there are no injuries to report.
The Coast Guard reports that there is 3 feet of water inside the vessel.  Additional pumps have been brought onboard to get the water out so the ship can be refloated and taken to a shipyard for repairs.

According to Cruise West, the Spirit of Nantucket is one of the newest additions to Cruise West’s fleet. Operating exclusively on the East Coast of the U.S. in 2007, her shallow draft allows for exploration of the charming ports of call that are untouched by tourism.

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