Stranded Nunavut cruise ship passengers rescued

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Amundsen have rescued the passengers of a cruise ship that ran aground on an uncharted rock in Nunavut's Coronation Gulf.

The MV Clipper Adventurer became stranded around 7 p.m. MT Friday while making its way from Port Epworth to Kugluktuk.

Efforts by the crew to dislodge the vessel during high tide on Saturday were unsuccessful.

All 118 passengers, as well as the crew, are safe and unharmed, cruise operator Adventure Canada said.

Company CEO Matthew Swan described the ship as "completely stable."

"There is a list of about 4.5 degrees to the port side, but there doesn't seem to be any damage that we can detect."

He said skies were sunny and waters calm for the last two days, so a lot of people just relaxed on deck.

The Amundsen was dispatched to the scene from the Beaufort Sea.

Coast Guard spokeswoman Theresa Nichols said the passengers were transferred to the icebreaker beginning Sunday around 4 p.m. ET and that it was completed in later in the evening.

"All of the passengers were transferred to the Amundsen," she said. "They're all in good health."

The Clipper's crew is expected to remain on the idled ship for now, she said, adding that there has been no pollution, such as oil, spilled in the water because of the incident.

Swan said he didn't know what might be done to free the ship. Nichols said any decisions on assistance for the vessel will be made by Transport Canada.

The icebreaker was taking the tourists to Kugluktuk and they will be flown to Edmonton.