Cruise Ship Loses Navigation Amidst Turbulent Storm In The North Sea

Due to a strong storm, the Norwegian cruise ship MS Maud could not navigate the turbulent North Sea on Thursday, December 21. The vessel, owned by the Hurtigruten Group of Norway’s cruise operator HX, was travelling from Floroe, Norway, to Tilbury, UK, when it experienced severe damage and a power outage.

The Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre responded and announced that all 131 crew members and 266 passengers were safe. The storm’s worst effects were felt on the ship’s bridge, where powerful gusts broke windows, letting water in and causing a power outage. Important radars and navigation systems shut down, but the main engine kept running.

Hurtigruten confirmed the incident, reporting that the MS Maud ran into a rogue wave and lost power. There were no reports of significant injuries among the crew or passengers, and the ship’s status was considered stable. The ship cannot manoeuvre; it is now being manually directed from the engine room.

A towage vessel was sent by the Danish authorities and the civil rescue company Esvagt, and it was expected to arrive at the ship at approximately 2230 GMT. The rescue spokesperson emphasised that the captain had not requested evacuation and expressed confidence that the ship was not in immediate danger despite the difficult circumstances.

The storm, characterised by northwest winds with hurricane-force gusts, pounded the region late Thursday. The bad weather is expected to last until Friday, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. The way things are going shows how strong the crew of the MS Maud is and how well the rescue crews worked together to handle the issue at sea.

Reference: Reuters

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Source: Maritime Shipping News