Two crew members died in engine room incident on Holland America Line's cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam during a call at Half Moon Cay in Bahamas. The explosion led to the release of steam, which resulted in the tragic death.
Cruise Law News reported that the deceased crew members were third engineer Joseph Terrado and wiper Wawan Gusnawan. 

In a statement, HAL expressed its condolences: "We regret to share that on Friday, March 22, while docked at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas, an accidental steam release in an engineering space aboard Nieuw Amsterdam sadly led to the death of two crew members. The Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Dutch Safety Board are investigating the incident. Safety remains our highest priority, and we are committed to understanding what lessons can be drawn from this tragic event. "We at Holland America Line are profoundly saddened by this occurrence. We have reached out to the families of the affected team members, offering our support to them and all our crew during this difficult period."

The Cruise Law News detailed the harrowing event, citing information from cruise employees who wished to remain anonymous. According to the site, the two crew members were trapped and likely suffocated due to a combination of hot steam and a lack of oxygen. Initially, five crew members were in the engine room; following the explosion, three exited and secured the water-tight door behind them. The fire response team, assembled post-explosion, was unable to open the doors, possibly due to overheated hydraulic oil preventing the hydraulic pump from generating sufficient pressure. The emergency manual hand pump also reportedly failed to function.

A crew member informed Crew Center that the captain announced the deaths of two crew members during this tragic event, visibly moved to tears during the announcement. "There was a moment of silence that the captain requested," the crew member mentioned.
When tragedy strikes, it deeply affects everyone, as all crew members are dedicated profesionals working to support their families back home. The loss is felt among both the crew members' families and their colleagues on board.

Following the incident, Nieuw Amsterdam returned to its home port in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, March 23, and was declared 'fully operable' by independent surveyors from the Dutch government and the US Coast Guard, according to HAL.
The ship has since departed on its next voyage, making a port call in Jamaica today, March 25.