A storm had brought the "Viking Sky" in distress off the west coast of Norway. So far, 371 of the 1373 people have landed from the "Viking Sky", as announced at a press conference in the Norwegian municipality of Fræna.
The rescue operation was slow, because the passengers had to be pulled up individually in a helicopter. 17 of the rescued were taken to a hospital. Most passengers aboard the cruise ship are from the United Kingdom and the United States, according to police.
The Southern Norwegian emergency medical service tweeted that the evacuation was done with caution. According to Viking Ocean Cruise shipping company were 915 passengers and 458 crew members on board.
Engine damage partially resolved
After an engine failure, three of the four engines are now running again. The cruise ship is on its way to the port of Molde and, according to a spokesman, can drive on its own again.
As reported by the radio station NRK, it should be directed on the way to the port of two tugs.
The "Viking Sky" was on Saturday afternoon with around 1300 passengers on board in heavy waves in distress advised. The ship was on its way from Tromsø in Northern Norway to Stavanger in the south, when it sent an emergency call because of an engine failure. The coastal section Hustadvika is located near Kristiansund on the central west coast of Norway and is considered a dangerous sea area. There have been more accidents in the ship in the past.
Also crew members of a freighter in safety
Passengers posted incredible scenes on board on Twitter. You can see how furniture, such as armchairs, chairs and tables, and plants on the floor slide to and fro during heavy waves. Many people sit on board and wear lifejackets.
EU: Viking Sky cruise ship running aground off Norway | March 23 2019 | Bloomberg | Alexus Sheppard https://t.co/pNeMuyP36k pic.twitter.com/zGyyeOXDk5
- redball (@ redball2) March 23, 2019The nine crew members of the same coastal area in distress freighter "Hagland Captain" were meanwhile brought to safety, according to news agency NTB. The freighter was on his way to becoming a "Viking Star" when his engine failed as well. Thereupon it had received list page.
The evacuees were sent to an emergency room in the city of Brynhallen, some 500 kilometers north of the capital, Oslo. The injured were then taken to three hospitals.
The radio station NRK showed recordings of the "Viking Sky" in heavy waves in the dangerous coastline Hustadvika, in which there are numerous small islands and reefs. The Southern Norwegian ambulance service said the ship had sent an emergency call for propulsion problems in adverse weather conditions and headed for the coast.