PORTLAND -- The cruise ship MV Aurora calls on our port today, pulling into the Portland Ocean Terminal sometime around 8 a.m.

The Aurora is operated by P&O Cruises, a part of Carnival Corporation, and she carries 1,870 passengers. She is 885 feet long and is 203 feet high, or 32 feet taller than Niagara Falls. She departs at 6 p.m.

The Aurora also has an interesting history. In March 2001, she helped rescue 11 Russian seamen after their cargo ship capsized and sank in the South China Sea. During the rescue attempt, Aurora's crew battled bad weather, swells and strong wind in small rescue boats to rescue the Russian seamen floating in the water. The Aurora and several other ships in the area were able to save the lives of 11 of the 19-member crew.

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