Earlier today 479 lives lost as Norwegian Cruise Ship experience engine failure during a storm.. Read more..

On March 23, 2019, the cruise ship Viking Sky experienced engine failure off Norway’s western coast near Hustadvika amid severe weather conditions, including strong winds and rough seas. The vessel, carrying 1,373 individuals—915 passengers and 458 crew members—issued a mayday call as it began drifting toward shore.

 

To prevent grounding, the crew anchored the ship and initiated an evacuation. Rescue operations involved airlifting 479 passengers by helicopter to safety. Subsequently, the crew managed to restart some engines, allowing the ship to proceed to the port of Molde under its own power, accompanied by tugboats.

 

Investigations revealed that the engine failure was due to low oil pressure, which caused an automatic shutdown of all engines. Authorities launched inquiries into why the vessel sailed despite storm warnings, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.