V.I. Government Leads St. Thomas-Bases Response Effort as Alleged Grenade Reported Found Onboard Celebrity Cruise Ship Summit at WICO Dock on Sunday

Local and federal partners coordinate, Ascertain grenade a “dud”

In response to a 911 call received Sunday morning from WICO, the V.I. Government led a team of local and federal partners on St. Thomas to investigate a report of an alleged grenade found onboard the Celebrity cruise ship Summit. First responders, including the Hazardous Device Unit, were immediately dispatched to the scene and secured the vicinity while the investigation continued. Cruise ship passengers who had previously disembarked from the vessel were advised to remain dockside until the all clear was given. An evacuation of the ship was not ordered. 

Governor de Jongh received updates throughout the investigation Sunday by VITEMA Director Mark Walters.

As part of the response effort, the VIPD designated an Incident Command Post at the WICO dock on St. Thomas to facilitate emergency coordination efforts. VITEMA Director Mark Walters is advising the general community that the following agencies responded: EMS, DPNR, the Port Authority, the Department of Tourism, WICO, VIFS, VIPD, along with VITEMA, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, TSA, the Secret Service, and the FBI. It was determined that the alleged grenade was, in fact, a dud and harmless.

The device was found in a routine security inspection onboard the Summit Sunday and appeared to be similar in appearance to a training device used in the military. A similar device was discovered by a crew member on the Asmara Journey on December 12, 2009.

By mid-afternoon Sunday the all clear was given by the Police Department and passengers who had previously disembarked were allowed to return to the ship. A final debriefing was held with the Captain of the “Summit” in the Captain’s Quarters.

VITEMA Director Mark Walters wishes to acknowledge the prompt, efficient, and coordinated efforts of all local and federal partners, including the Department of Tourism for assisting in the response effort. The VIDOT provided hospitality services and information to passengers that were not able to board the cruise ship while the investigation was in place Sunday afternoon.

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