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PortMiami reopens to cruise ships after boat-ferry collision

FILE PHOTO CRUISE_PortMiami.jpg
Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Escape and MSC Seascape were unable to berth at PortMiami, pictured in this file photo, while the USCG conducted an investigation and salvage operation
The US Coast Guard reopened PortMiami to all vessel traffic Sunday afternoon following an early morning collision between a 30-foot boat and the Fisher Island ferry.

The incident kept Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Escape and MSC Seascape from docking to disembark passengers and delayed embarkation for the next cruises.

One dead, one seriously injured

One man died and another was seriously injured after their boat struck the ferry in the channel.

USCG closed the channel to investigate the incident and salvage the boat. That operation completed, the USCG captain of the port authorized the facility to open to all vessel traffic shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Estimated 33,000 cruisers impacted

The port closure disrupted travel plans for about 33,000 people, according to The Miami Herald, citing a spokesperson for PortMiami, who said each cruise ship expected to disembark between 5,000 and 6,000 passengers and embark similar numbers in the afternoon.