The Carnival Triumph broke free from the dock in Mobile, Ala., where it is being repaired following a highly publicized engine-room fire in February.
A Twitter message on Wednesday from Carnival said that due to strong winds, the ship broke away from its moorings. It added that the Coast Guard was on site.
News reports say that a security shack near the ship was swept into the water by the winds and that one guard is missing. The ship drifted and is said to be resting against a cargo vessel.
Television station WKRG reported in a Tweet that the Triumph has a hole in its right side near the stern.
Follow Tom Stieghorst on Twitter @tstravelweekly.