According to Norwegian authorities, roughly 1,300 people are being evacuated from the cruise ship Viking Sky. The ship suffered engine problems and sent out a distress call and was drifting toward shore in high winds and rough seas off the western coast of Norway.
The Norwegian newspaper VG is reporting that the ship was within 2.5 nautical miles from shore at around 4PM local time. Winds were reported to be around 38 knots with waves up to eight meters high. By 6:30 pm local time, the ship’s personnel were reported to have brought at least one of the ship’s four engines back on-line. By that time, around 100 passengers had been rescued according to Viking operations manager, Tor Andre Franck.
The Norwegian Coast Guard reports that five helicopters and several vessels are involved in the rescue. Eight passengers or crew have been transported to local hospitals but no life-threatening injuries have been reported. Tugs have been dispatched from Trondheim and Bergen tow the ship to safety.
The Viking Sky was en route to Stavanger from Tromso when it lost its engines and was drifting off the town of Farstad near Molde on the country’s western coast.
Viking Sky is a diesel-electric ship powered by four MAN 32/44CR engines driving Rolls-Royce Promas integrated propulsion and maneuvering systems.
Viking Sky Video: CHC helicopters
Interesting that they didnt want to use the life boats that are designed to be used for this.
Willy, are you drunk?
Because the lifeboats cannot be used in such storm!
Even more intersting is all four engines failed. Wondering if a check on the maintenance will show they left port with only one functioning engine
Will you, Never would Never leave dock on a single engine.
Maneuvering in that are needs to be A#1.
Life boats would perhaps capsize in that steep sea. Not worth risk.
The owners and rescuers are all performing A#1. Study the subject with
this blogger’s experiences at Sea. Thanks, Rick.
What is confusing is that the ship is diesel-electric. It has four engines, probably two engine rooms, two electric motors, and two propellers. The four diesel engines all drive generators which create electricity to drive electric motors, one each connected to the two propellers.
It is possible, but not likely, that the diesel engines all failed. It is much more probable that the control system which distributes power to the motors failed. Cruise ships built at Fincantieri have had more than their share of propulsion failures due to electrical problems.