Valdez in Chugach Census Area, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

“Abandon Ship!”

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 29, 2026

1. “Abandon Ship!” Marker (Left Side}

Inscription.
On the morning of October 4, 1980 the M /S PRINSENDAM, a 427 foot-long luxury cruise ship with 329 passengers and 190 crew members, was enroute to Japan after sailing up the Inside Passage from Vancouver. At 1:00 a.m. she broadcasted a distress call stating she had a fire in her engine room. The Captain ordered the passengers to assemble in the lounge as the crew worked to contain the blaze.

The United States Coast Guard, aware that the potential for tragedy existed, organized a rescue force that eventually would include 7 large helicopters, numerous fixed-wing aircraft, and three Cutters. The Super-tanker T/V WILLIAMSBURG, having just left Valdez with a load of crude oil, changed course and sailed to the aid of the stricken cruise ship.

By 5:12 a.m., the fire had spread to the dining room and the order was given to abandon ship. All the passengers and most of the crew set out in life boats and rafts in rolling seas and deteriorating weather conditions. Many weren’t dressed warmly enough to be outside, let alone on the open sea. Hypothermia could set in quickly, especially among the elderly. Many suffered from seasickness.

Helicopters

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

soon commenced lifting passengers out of the boats one at a time, hovering overhead until they had a full load and then depositing them on the deck of the T/V Williamsburg. The Coast Guard Cutter BOUTWELL arrived on the scene at 1:45 p.m., but it was not until 6:16 p.m. that all were thought to be safe on ships or land, and then not till 1:01 a.m. that a lost life boat with 18 survivors and two Air Force Rescue-men was located.

As the T/V WILLIAMSBURG returned to Valdez with 370 survivors on board the city hurried to make preparations. Meetings of City officials, police, fire department, State Troopers, Coast Guard, the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and the Red Cross were held to map strategy. Lodgings were found, clothing gathered, prescriptions filled, and volunteers organized. When the supertanker docked at the Alyeska Marine Terminal at 6:10 p.m. on October 5th the city’s population was immediately increased by 10%. The outpouring of care and concern by the people of Valdez for the survivors would later earn the city its second designation as “The All-America City.”

The entire incident concluded without any loss of life or serious

“Abandon Ship!” Marker (Right Side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 29, 2026

2. “Abandon Ship!” Marker (Right Side)

injury. The Prinsedam continued to burn, and at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 11 she rolled on her side and sank in the Gulf of Alaska. The United States Coast Guard considers this rescue to be one of their most challenging and successful in their 200 year history.

<Sidebar:>
Life Boat #4 from the cruise ship M/S PRINSEDAM.
For 12 harrowing hours on October 5, 1980 this life boat was all that stood between life and death for up to 80 persons adrift in the treacherous waters of the Gulf of Alaska. It was donated by Wayne Callan.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is October 5, 1980.

Location. 61° 7.762′ N, 146° 21.32′ W. Marker is in Valdez in Chugach Census Area, Alaska. It is on Tatitlek Ave north of Egan Drive, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the west side of the Valdez Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Valdez AK 99686, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southcentral Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring

“Abandon Ship!” Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 29, 2026

3. “Abandon Ship!” Marker

of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An Inside Job (a few steps from this marker); Old Town Fire Bell (a few steps from this marker); Alaska’s 50th Anniversary (a few steps from this marker); Getting there . . . (within shouting distance of this marker); Trail of the Whispering Giants (approx. 0.2 miles away).

More about this marker. The right side of the marker contains an illustration of Lifeboat Operation, with the caption “By pushing and pulling on the levers in the lifeboat, power to drive the boat would be transferred through a transmission to turn the propeller. By having two persons on each lever, the efforts of 16 persons could be applied to this task.” Next to this is a reprint of a newspaper article with the headline “Passenger recounts Peinsendam ordeal”. Also appearing on the marker are a picture of the Prinsedam, a map showing where the ship went down, the emblem of the United States Coast

“Abandon Ship!” Marker and Lifeboat image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 29, 2026

4. “Abandon Ship!” Marker and Lifeboat

The marker can be seen on the wall behind the lifeboat.

Guard and for the All-American City.

Prinsedam Lifeboat image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 29, 2026

5. Prinsedam Lifeboat

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 10, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.