Viking Sky position, adrift off Norway Coast and evacuating Passengers & Crew

[CCWineLover]

Viking Sky in bad weather is adrift off Norway.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/23/cruise-ship-adrift-off-norway-to-evacuate-1300-passengers

Here are some screen shots from Marine Traffic showing details and it's current position.  Current time on scene is 1600 hours.

[CCWineLover]

The cruise ship Viking Sky has suffered engine failed in windy conditions off the Norwegian west coast. The ship has 1,300 passengers on board who are due to be evacuated. A mayday signal has been sent out as the huge ship is drifting towards land, Norway’s maritime rescue service has said.

[terrydtx]

Not good news at all. Reports are that the anchor has been dropped and is hold the Sky from drifting into the rocky shore.

[TrumpyNor]

From Norwegian news on TV right now: They have now managed to start one of the engines, but are still awaiting evacuation of all 1300 people on board (that number includes both passengers and crew). Because of the stormy weather several sea rescue boats just had to turn around without reaching the cruise ship. 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2019 by TrumpyNor

[Atocha Shipwreck Gal]

14 minutes ago, TrumpyNor said:

From Norwegian news on TV right now: They have now managed to start one of the engines, but are still awaiting evacuation of all 1300 people on board (that number includes both passengers and crew). Because of the stormy weather several sea rescue boats just had to turn around without reaching the cruise ship. 

 

 

Since you are in Norway, please , can you keep us apprised of the situation by posting regularly?  Thank you so much for being our eyes and ears across the pond....and Godspeed to the rescuers, crew and passengers. 

[Jersey42]

Looks pretty scary out there.  Hope everyone stays safe.

Edited March 23, 2019 by Jersey42

[TrumpyNor]

4 minutes ago, Atocha Shipwreck Gal said:

Since you are in Norway, please , can you keep us apprised of the situation by posting regularly?  Thank you so much for being our eyes and ears across the pond....and Godspeed to the rescuers, crew and passengers. 

I will try my best - last news from the sea rescue services is that evacuation has started by helicopters - each helicopter can take 15-20 people, and the "turn-around-time" is about 20 minutes, so it will take some time...

 

 

 

EDIT: They just said that it is already 2 1/2 hours since the trouble started, so it has been going on for some time already...

Edited March 23, 2019 by TrumpyNor

[Sam.Seattle]

THANKS!  Following along

 

[AncientWanderer]

Oh...scary stuff.   I believe they are up there on a "Northern Lights" cruise.  

Our prayers are with the passengers and crew that they will all be safe, warm and comfortable very soon.

[Atocha Shipwreck Gal]

2 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

Oh...scary stuff.   I believe they are up there on a "Northern Lights" cruise.  

Our prayers are with the passengers and crew that they will all be safe, warm and comfortable very soon.

Yes - it appears to be the tail end of a 13 night Northern Light cruise. 

[heakja]

100 passengers brought to the shore so far. Pictures on www.nrk.no, norwegian news site. 

 

Update: One of the engines are now working again.

Edited March 23, 2019 by heakja

[Frenchberet]

We did the Northern Lights cruise in February.  Lucky this happened today when the ship is near the Norwegian coast, not in the middle of the North Sea!

[Atocha Shipwreck Gal]

7 minutes ago, heakja said:

100 passengers brought to the shore so far. Pictures on www.nrk.no, norwegian news site. 

 

Update: One of the engines are now working again.

Thank you for keeping us updated. 

[TrumpyNor]

Two large tow boats are also on their way to the sight, but will take some time for them to get there (one coming from Trondheim and one from Bergen), to rescue the ship itself after all passengers have been evacuated.

[heakja]

One passenger has suffered minor injuries.

 

Update: About 30 passengers an hour is brought to the shore. They are planning on working throughout the night. The passengers are evacuted to Brynhallen, at Hustad, right outside Molde. Then to hotels in the area.

 

Edited March 23, 2019 by heakja

[TrumpyNor]

It seems like the ship now has moved a little to the west, meaning further away from the coast - and on the news someone just stated that that is a good sign. One of the Norwegian Coast Guard ships are now next to Viking Sky. The weather is better now than earlier, but still very strong wind - but is supposed to get better slowly but steadily from now on.

Edited March 23, 2019 by TrumpyNor

[heakja]

6 minutes ago, TrumpyNor said:

It seems like the ship now has moved a little to the west, meaning further away from the coast - and on the news someone just stated that that is a good sign. One of the Norwegian Coast Guard ships are now next to Viking Sky. The weather is better now than earlier, but still very strong wind - but is supposed to get better slowly but steadily from now on.

 

According to Aftenposten.no and an eyewitness, most passengers a bit shook up, but very happy to be saved.

Edited March 23, 2019 by heakja

[TrumpyNor]

Just got information that one tow boat already on the site, and Viking Sky has moved a short distance already, further west. Five large rescue helicopters are bringing people ashore.

Edited March 23, 2019 by TrumpyNor

[Sam.Seattle]

wondering how long they have been without engines?  Did they still have generators for power?

 

[AncientWanderer]

22 minutes ago, Frenchberet said:

We did the Northern Lights cruise in February.  Lucky this happened today when the ship is near the Norwegian coast, not in the middle of the North Sea!

 

BBC news is reporting that they are in a section along the coast called Hustadvika, a particularly rough area.   

 

[Cyber Kat]

Yikes!  That's the ship we are booked on for our Trade Routes of the Middle Ages in the fall of 2020.  I was happy because it was one of the newer ships.  Guess that doesn't mean much!

[TrumpyNor]

Just now, Sam.Seattle said:

wondering how long they have been without engines?  Did they still have generators for power?

 

I believe the problems started around 3 hours ago.

[Haworth]

On board now, nothing much to add from the above, all calm on board but a lot of passengers were soaked when a window caved in in the dining room, one of the muster stations

[puppycanducruise]

Wow.  That's scary.

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

[Presto2]

I have just seen this in a UK newspaper. Have never sailed with Viking but obviously wish everyone well and hope that they can evacuate everyone safely and / or sort the issue out. Thoughts and prayers for everyone

 

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/cruise-ship-stalled-off-norway-passengers-evacuated/ar-BBV8iJ6?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=ACERDHP17