Cruise ship with 1300 passengers in distress

The evacuation should last the whole night. A passenger after the other is brought by helicopter from the ship. The crew of a freighter, clearly wanted to help in the rescue operation must also be saved.

A cruise ship with 1,300 people on Board has fallen during a storm off the Norwegian coast in distress. The ship had engine problems and had to be evacuated, therefore, informed the police of the Norwegian province of Møre og Romsdal on Saturday afternoon on Twitter. The südnorweg of rescue service, said that the Viking Sky have dropped off because of the drive problems in case of adverse weather conditions, an emergency call and driving in the direction of the coast.

It was assumed that one of the two engines of the ship failed. While several helicopters and ships were used for evacuation, was at the same time, trying to get the engine going again. Involved various authorities and organisations, including the Red cross. The cruise ship is now at anchor, tug should bring it later in calmer waters.

To 16.30 have been brought to the police, according to the first 100 passengers to Land. They came first in the municipality of Fræna, while in the nearby towns of Molde and Kristiansund to sleep, she was looking for. Of injured patients, the speech was not. Was missing no one. According to media reports, up to late in the evening, less than 200 passengers had been brought from the ship, the evacuation is expected to last until at least Sunday morning.

Norwegian media that the vessel is less than five kilometers from the coast and 38 knots with a strong Wind. This corresponds to about 70 km/h or the wind strength of 8. The radio station NRK showed footage, which was how the Viking Sky in a strong swell in the dangerous Hustadvika waters drive.

The Hustadvika waters are located in Kristiansund on the West Central coast of Norway and is considered as a dangerous area. There ship accidents are happening more frequently.

After the cruise ship was in the same area of a freighter in distress. In the case of the cargo ship Hagland Captain had broken down on Saturday evening in the area Hustadvika also, the engine, after which it have received, informed the südnorweg of rescue service. Norwegian media reports, the freighter found itself on the way to Viking Sky, in order to help in the ongoing rescue operation.

According to the rescue service were redirected to two rescue helicopters were on the way to Viking Sky. The evacuation of the cruise ship delaying. The people on Board were safe. The police informed that nine members of the crew of the Hagland Captain should be fetched from the Board.