Sovereign of the Seas Runs Aground

Sovereign of the Seas, one of the world’s largest passenger ships, ran aground as it entered the harbor channel at San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday.

There were 3,193 people aboard--2,370 passengers and 823 crew members--but no injuries or damage were reported. The 880-foot vessel was freed within two hours and towed to port, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The grounding occurred in about 14 feet of water just west of the harbor channel and within several hundred yards of the 450-year-old governor’s mansion, La Fortaleza, which overlooks the bay. Tides in the area run about six inches to a foot, and visibility was clear, according to the Coast Guard, which is investigating.

“I noticed we were drifting out of the channel and we weren’t staying within the buoys,” said Joe Caracappa, 27, of Selden, N.Y., who was lounging on the bow when the ship ran aground at about 12:30 p.m. “A few minutes later, we were stuck.”

After overnight inspections found no damage, the ship, which is operated by the Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, left San Juan bound for St. Thomas.