Passengers Airlifted Off Stranded Cruise Ship in Norway (Update)
Update as of Sunday, March 24, 11:30am ET:
The evacuation of the Viking Sky cruise ship has been suspended. According to CNN, 479 passengers were airlifted off the vessel with 436 passengers and 458 crew members remaining on board. The ship's power has been restored to three of the four engines on board and the boat is making its way to Molde harbor with the assistance of a tug, accompanied by two supply vessels. Footage of the vessel's return was posted to Twitter:
Around 20 injuries have been reported and the Norwegian Red Cross is assisting in treating passengers who are reporting injuries such as cuts, bruises and broken bones.
"Throughout all of this, our first priority was for the safety and well-being of our passengers and our crew," Viking Ocean Cruises said in a statement, thanking Norwegian emergency services and local residents for their support.
The Viking Sky was set to get underway on its next trip on March 27. That sailing has been cancelled by the cruise line.
From Saturday, March 23, 5:30pm ET:
SkyNews is reporting that passengers are being airlifted from a Viking Cruises ship that suffered a full engine failure in heavy seas off the coast of Norway. The Viking Sky has more than 1,300 passengers and crew aboard. As many as eight passengers have reportedly been injured due to the rough sea conditions.
The ship issued a mayday distress call after suffering the engine failure. The boat was drifting towards land and now sits anchored about 1.5 miles from the shoreline. Current reports say that the crew has managed to restart at least one of the ship's massive engines. Passengers are being airlifted one by one via helicopter from the ship. The evacuation is going to take quite some time to complete and is expected to last through the night.
A spokesperson for Viking emailed TPG the following statement:
We can confirm that on March 23rd at 2pm (Norwegian time) the vessel Viking Sky a 47,800 tonne ship travelling from Tromsø to Stavanger, carrying 915 guests and 458 crew experienced a loss of
engine power off the coast of Norway near Molde. We are working closely with the relevant authorities and all operational procedures were followed in line with international regulations. In addition Viking has dispatched an operational task force, including the company’s owner, to Molde.
Our first priority was for the safety and wellbeing 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 ship is proceeding on its own power and a tugboat is on site. The evacuation is proceeding with all necessary caution. A small number of non-life threatening injuries have been reported.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute says wave heights are reaching upwards of 20-26 feet with wind speeds being clocked at as much as 54 miles per hour. A video shot from a helicopter and posted to Twitter shows just how rough the waters are, moving the ship about like a buoy:
Another video posted to Twitter from passenger Alexus Sheppard shows what's happening inside the ship. Loose furniture rapidly moves from one side of the boat to the other and panels fall from the ceiling as staff still work to comfort frightened passengers. In the second clip, the boat tilts all the way to what appears to be a 45-degree angle.
With the storm forecasted to last until around midnight local time (23:00GMT), passengers on board are in for a rough ride while they wait for evacuation. Temperatures in the area are hovering around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water flooding onto the ship in the video below is likely only about 10 degrees warmer than the frigid coastal air.
According to Bloomberg, the Viking Sky "was on a 12-day trip that began March 14 in the western Norwegian city of Bergen." Evacuated passengers are "being accommodated in local hotels when they arrive back on shore, and Viking will arrange for return flights for all guests," per the Viking spokesperson.
Viking also noted that it is "in the process of updating the website with the latest information and activating special telephone numbers for passengers and their relatives." If you have friends or loved ones aboard the ship, go to https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/my-trip/current-sailings/index.html for more information.
Have plans to go on a cruise in the near future? Read our article on What to Do If You Find Yourself on a Wildly Tilting Cruise Ship.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.