Norwegian cruise engine failure prompts rescue operation for 1,300 people on board

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Rescue helicopters were battling severe winds on Saturday to airlift more than 1,300 people off a Viking Cruises’ ship that issued a distressed call after an engine failure off the coast of Norway.

Of the 1,300 stranded, 915 were passengers on the Viking Cruises’ ship called The Viking Sky, Norway’s Rescue Coordination Centre told ABC News. The ship can house 930 guests and was built in 2017, according to the company’s website.

A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated.(Eva Frisnes) A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated.

The initial mayday was received by the agency at 2 p.m. local time, a Viking spokesman said. Currently, the cruise ship is close to shore and has one engine working and one anchor holding. Rescuers hope to get two other engines working.

A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated.(Eva Frisnes) A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated.

“Our first priority was for the safety and well-being of our passengers and our crew, and in close cooperation with the Norwegian Coast Guard, the captain decided to evacuate all guests from the vessel by helicopter,” the spokesman said in a statement.

Four helicopters were involved in the operations, and at least 87 people have been hoisted off, including eight with injuries, the agency said.

Viking Ocean Cruises "The Viking Sky" cruise ship is trying to restart engines while 1300 people await rescue.(Eva Frisnes) Viking Ocean Cruises “The Viking Sky” cruise ship is trying to restart engines while 1300 people await rescue.

Danny and Judith Bates were among the rescued.

“Very frightening. We went up on a helicopter with a sling, the two of us together and it was quite scary,” Danny Bates told Eurovision.

A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated(Eva Frisnes) A cruise ship went adrift off the waters of Norway on March 23, 2019, and passengers were being evacuated
Viking Ocean Cruises "The Viking Sky" cruise ship is trying to restart engines while 1300 people await rescue.(Eva Frisnes) Viking Ocean Cruises “The Viking Sky” cruise ship is trying to restart engines while 1300 people await rescue.

His companion, Judith Bates said, “I felt surely, they have everything under control, it’s all going to be OK. So we just take this as an unexpected adventure.”

A tugboat is en route to further secure The Viking Sky, but the weather conditions remained harsh. The rescue operation was expected to continue through the night.

“We are in the process of updating the website with the latest information and activating special telephone numbers for passengers and their relatives,” the spokesman said.

If you have questions or concerns about any guests onboard, please visit their website.

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