Lights go out for cruise ship off Oregon coast

Herald staff

ASTORIA, Ore. — Electrical power was restored Tuesday morning on a cruise ship with 1,700 people aboard eight miles off the Oregon coast after a problem with an electrical generator disrupted heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, running water and other ship systems.

The generator aboard the Veendam was brought back to operation at 6:10 a.m., about three hours after power went out, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Jonathan Reardon.

The Veendam was bound for San Diego and was under way, he said.

The 720-foot Holland America Line ship was never in danger and no Coast Guard aid was requested, Reardon said.

An auxilliary power system provided electricity when the main power failed, so the crew never lost the ability to navigate or communicate with the shore. But the crew temporarily stopped the engines to repair the generator.

  • County declares emergency: Wallowa County in northeast Oregon has declared a state of emergency so that farmers, ranchers and businesses can receive assistance after losses from wildfires and a second summer of drought. The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners declared the emergency Monday. Severe dry and hot weather between June 10 and Aug. 24 and wildfires between Aug. 24 and Sept. 4 that burned nearly 100,000 acres led to the emergency conditions. The resolution asks that the governor request that a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration be declared for Wallowa County, including emergency haying and grazing assistance. If approved, harvesting of hay and livestock grazing would be allowed on cropland that has been removed from production of annual program crops, such as wheat and feed grains.

  • Fair deep in the hole: The group that operates the Deschutes County Fair and expo center is more than $400,000 in the red, county officials have learned. A financial report for The Deschutes County Fair Association, released Monday, says the group is $462,285 in debt, having bounced $59,661 worth of checks. Employment service agency Express Personnel Services was hit the hardest, with $54,082 of the bad checks. Fair association officials had previously thought $145,000 worth of bad checks could have been written. Dick Donaca, one of the accountants who prepared the report, said he didn’t know where the $145,000 figure came from.

  • Mission Ridge expansion gets OK: The Forest Service has given preliminary approval to a long-range plan that could bring new chairlifts, a new lodge and expanded parking to Mission Ridge Ski Area. But the Forest Service has rejected a proposal by Mission Ridge’s owners to expand skiing outside the existing permit area through a land exchange involving 1,125 acres of state wildlife land. Half of the land used by the ski area 13 miles southwest of Wenatchee is in the Wenatchee National Forest. Forest Service officials began analyzing the ski area’s plans four years ago after concerns were raised about piecemeal development on Mission Ridge, said Bob Stoehr, a Wenatchee National Forest planner.

  • More WTO lawsuits: The city has been hit by another lawsuit over arrests during the World Trade Organization protests last fall, this time by a public interest law firm from Washington, D.C. The case filed Monday on behalf of four individuals in U.S. District Court accuses Mayor Paul Schell and police officials of violating the Constitution by declaring a 25-block downtown area a "no-protest zone" Dec. 1 and 2. Trial Lawyers for Public Justice asked that the case, which seeks unspecified damages, be certified as a class action on behalf of about 600 people who were arrested.
    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
    Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

    The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

    x
    Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

    The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

    The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
    Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

    The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
    Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

    The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

    Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

    The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.