Adventure cruise operator AE Expeditions has confirmed its ship Ocean Explorer has been freed after running aground off Greenland earlier this week.

The ship and its 206 passengers and crew were rescued on Thursday by a Greenland research trawler, the Tarajoq.

Operator Aurora Expeditions, which trades as AE Expeditions in the UK, said: “We are pleased to confirm that the MV Ocean Explorer has been successfully freed from its grounding in Alpefjord, Greenland, on Thursday 14 September 2023, with the help of the Tarajoq vessel.

“All onboard are safe and there is no damage to the environment.

“We are waiting on the relevant authorities for advice regarding our next steps. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the management and team of the Tarajoq vessel, for assisting us during this challenging time, and our team who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of our passengers.

“We also sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers during this process.

“We remain committed to assisting them as the situation progresses.”