Cruise ship to 'evacuate its 1,300 passengers after sending mayday signal off the coast of Norway'.

[Gardenista]

You kinda answered your own question here, beside Hustadvika is notorious for being a shallow and difficult port, especially in bad weather. There was serious concern the ship would strand at some point. As you have possibly seen in the videos, all furnitures, cutlery, vending machines, etc. slides across the floors, walls and roof, and it really takes nothing to be injured onboard. Same goes for falling over if the ship suddenly turns, or a wave hits the ship.

As I posted up-thread, there were supposed to be six boats departing Saturday, Hurtigruten among them, but only two actually did. The remaining four decided to postphone their departure until the weather got better, and the sea calmed down. Many have started to question the captain's decision to depart Molde, that he should've listened to the locals. That was some bad judgement there, and we must be greatful this didn't take a more sinister turn.

Edit: Viking Sky has just arrived Molde!

So rough seas cause engine failure?

 

[CSIDreamer]

I’m surprised they were allowing people to sit in there. When it got extremely rough on my cruise, we were told to stay in our cabins due to shifting furniture and loose objects.

Is everything bolted down in the cabins? I'm revising my bucket list to remove "cruise". My luck.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

So rough seas cause engine failure?

I suppose there will be an investigation to find out and pinpoint what really happened and why the engines failed. It seems a bit weird that a ship this new would have engine failure so soon.

Edit: Speaking of the sun; NRK just posted this interview with an engineer theorizing why the engines failed. In theory, the weather alone shouldn't be able to knock out the engines, but then he presents theories where the weather + huge waves are a big factor for the failure.
– Været alene skal ikke slå ut maskinen

 

[KALI]

Wow. That is definitely scary!

Scary video at the link

Ida Maria on Twitter

Ida Maria‏Verified account @idamaria
Ida Maria Retweeted Alexus Sheppard ️‍

Terrifying scenes from inside the #vikingsky today. Stay safe

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Is everything bolted down in the cabins? I'm revising my bucket list to remove "cruise". My luck.

Permanent furnishings would include desk/vanity, nightstands, cabinets/shelves. Free-standing furniture includes cocktail/coffee table, desk/vanity chair, upholstered chair/s. Some accommodations might have loveseat or sofa that usually double as extra bed/s. The furniture tends to be quite heavy compared to home furnishings, but it would probably move if the ship is listing or in rough seas. Beds are typically twins that can be pushed together to make a Queen. Staterooms with upper berths will have a ladder that can be moved. Balcony furniture tends to be lightweight - teak or aluminum.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Cruise Critic message board re: Viking Sky.

Viking Sky position, adrift off Norway Coast and evacuating Passengers & Crew

 

[gregjrichards]

458 crew!! Is that usual, to have a 1:2 ratio of crew to passengers? Wow!

Because cruises like this are so expensive they are rarely at full capacity.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

458 crew!! Is that usual, to have a 1:2 ratio of crew to passengers? Wow!

In addition to crew members with whom passengers come in contact - cabin stewards, dining room waitstaff, bartenders, entertainers/entertainment staff, passenger services personnel, tour desk, beauty salon/spa services, gym/fitness staff - there are many crew members who never interact with passengers. Electricians, plumbers, painters, general maintenance personnel, bakers, cooks, etc. are considered crew members, so, yes, crew to passenger ratio is 1:2.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

In addition to crew members with whom passengers come in contact - cabin stewards, dining room waitstaff, bartenders, entertainers/entertainment staff, passenger services personnel, tour desk, beauty salon/spa services, gym/fitness staff - there are many crew members who never interact with passengers. Electricians, plumbers, painters, general maintenance personnel, bakers, cooks, etc. are considered crew members, so, yes, crew to passenger ratio is 1:2.

And don't forget everyone down in the machine area, and up on the bridge + no one mentioned above works 24/7...

 

[JanetElaine]

Many have started to question the captain's decision to depart Molde, that he should've listened to the locals.

You mean Tromso, right? Molde was never supposed to be a port of call for the Viking Sky. I think they left from Tromso (cruise originated in Bergen).

I'm curious to see if there will be any word on investigations (outcomes) in the days to come. Really glad it ended as well as it did. Hoping the injured will have speedy recoveries, and I'm thankful for no casualties. Like many already said, it could have been so much worse.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

And don't forget everyone down in the machine area, and up on the bridge + no one mentioned above works 24/7...

I was going to say, many of them must be on shift as well. Not surprising it's so expensive, I guess!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I have been on a cruise, and decided that I prefer to just enjoy vacations by train instead.

One worrisome thing is that many seniors who have disabilities prefer cruises. They are hardly in shape for a precarious rescue situation. I noticed that when a cruise ship off the coast of Italy had to be evacuated. I hope everyone will be safe.

DH and I are 70 and 69, respectively. We started cruising in the mid-80s and sailed on several cruise lines over the next 10-15 years but have settled on Princess since 2000. We primarily cruise in January/February to escape Michigan winters but have also cruised Alaska and Canada/New England in the fall. We see few, if any, children on our sailings, and you are absolutely right about the number of older passengers, not to mention a plethora of walkers and scooters.

DH and I have often wondered how so many mobility-compromised passengers could be safely evacuated during an emergency situation. Most would be unable to negotiate stairs and would require assistance with wheelchairs and/or walkers. Elevator space is limited, and it's doubtful that elevators would operate during an emergency evacuation if power is lost. Getting into lifeboats/tenders is sometimes a challenge for able-bodied passengers and would certainly be extremely difficult for those who are mobility-compromised. If/When DH or I are no longer physically able to negotiate stairs or walk without assistance, we would not choose a cruise ship as a means of travel.

 

[human]

I live in the tropics where cruise ships come. Some anchor right by my house so I know when they are coming.

Schedules have been changed because of weather. A couple of months ago a ship came unexpectedly because it changed course by a couple thousand miles because of weather.

Another one left right when it arrived because the captain determined that it was too wavy for the passengers to go into the dock.

A man had drowned the week before on a dock and the captain was taking no chances.

I am surprised because from these experiences I figured the ship would have the best weather information in the world

 

[Gardenista]

I live in the tropics where cruise ships come. Some anchor right by my house so I know when they are coming.

Schedules have been changed because of weather. A couple of months ago a ship came unexpectedly because it changed course by a couple thousand miles because of weather.

Another one left right when it arrived because the captain determined that it was too wavy for the passengers to go into the dock.

A man had drowned the week before on a dock and the captain was taking no chances.

I am surprised because from these experiences I figured the ship would have the best weather information in the world

From what I've read, the reason this happened was because they lost engine power, not because of the weather.

 

[mickey2942]

DH and I are 70 and 69, respectively. We started cruising in the mid-80s and sailed on several cruise lines over the next 10-15 years but have settled on Princess since 2000. We primarily cruise in January/February to escape Michigan winters but have also cruised Alaska and Canada/New England in the fall. We see few, if any, children on our sailings, and you are absolutely right about the number of older passengers, not to mention a plethora of walkers and scooters.

DH and I have often wondered how so many mobility-compromised passengers could be safely evacuated during an emergency situation. Most would be unable to negotiate stairs and would require assistance with wheelchairs and/or walkers. Elevator space is limited, and it's doubtful that elevators would operate during an emergency evacuation if power is lost. Getting into lifeboats/tenders is sometimes a challenge for able-bodied passengers and would certainly be extremely difficult for those who are mobility-compromised. If/When DH or I are no longer physically able to negotiate stairs or walk without assistance, we would not choose a cruise ship as a means of travel.

That is pretty much our opinion. We stopped cruises, because my husband has CHF, and I am very careful about his food, and water.

 

[human]

From what I've read, the reason this happened was because they lost engine power, not because of the weather.

I am reading engine failure may be because of weather. Do you have the different determination?

And it sounds like the weather was not good if lifeboats cannot be released or tenders either.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

You mean Tromso, right?

Oh, dear. Yes, I do, you're absolutely right! I apologise to all if I have caused any confusion or misunderstanding due to my mix-up of Molde/Tromsø

 

[they'll get you]

So rough seas cause engine failure?

There’s stabilizing wings on ships which I’ve heard can break during very rough seas.

 

[they'll get you]

Nowadays the big cruise ships don’t have rudders as such but the actual propeller called ‘Azipod’ twist and turn to which ever direction it needs to go.

 

[they'll get you]

......that the ship drifted within 330 feet of shore before the crew was able to restart one engine.

“If they had run aground, we would have faced a major disaster”.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...ells-off-norway-coast/?utm_term=.535b8cd80b3f