• International

Evacuation of passengers has ended as cruise ship travels to Norway port

By Eliza Mackintosh and Kendall Trammell , CNN

Viking Sky passengers will begin flying home tonight

All passengers and crew aboard the Viking Sky cruise ship are safe in the port of Molde, in western Norway, and passengers will soon begin flying home, Viking Ocean Cruises said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

With the safe arrival of the vessel in port, our live coverage has ended. For all of the harrowing details from passengers who were stranded at sea, read our story .

"We made it," passengers cheer

The Viking Sky cruise ship has docked at a quay in Molde harbor, western Norway, after a harrowing day stranded at sea.

Passengers onboard the vessel shouted, "We made it," as the ship arrived on Sunday afternoon, Norwegian state broadcaster NRK reported .

Cruise ship expected to dock at 4:30 p.m. local time

The Viking Sky cruise ship is expected to dock at 4:30 p.m. local time in Molde, a port town in western Norway, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Southern Norway said on Twitter. Local people have been asked to stay away from the center of town as emergency services prepare for the vessel's arrival.

US Embassy consular team to assist American cruise passengers

The US Embassy in Oslo has sent a consular team to Molde, a coastal city in western Norway, to assist American citizens being evacuated from the Viking Sky cruise ship.

The embassy said it was in contact with Norwegian authorities leading the rescue effort.

"The safety and security of U.S. citizens is of the utmost importance, and we will provide more information as it becomes available," the embassy said in a statement .

Norwegian PM: "It has been a dramatic day"

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg thanked rescue workers and volunteers who had helped respond to what she called a "dramatic day" for passengers aboard the Viking Sky cruise ship.

"It has been a dramatic day for the passengers and rescue personnel on #VikingSky in #Hustadvika. Thank you to the talented rescuers, volunteers and others who have made an invaluable effort in demanding conditions," Soldberg said on Twitter.

Evacuation of passengers has ended as cruise ship travels to port

The evacuation of passengers from a cruise ship off the western coast of Norway has come to an end as the vessel safely makes its way to Molde harbor, Viking Ocean Cruises said in a statement.

Rescue teams airlifted 479 people from the vessel after it was stranded in stormy seas Saturday with 1,300 passengers and crew on board.

The Viking Sky cruise ship, which regained engine power on Sunday morning, is traveling to Molde accompanied by two supply ships and one tug assist vessel. There are 436 guests and 458 crew still remaining on the ship.

Twenty people sustained injuries on the vessel, which was being tossed about by wind and waves, Viking Ocean Cruises said. All are being treated at medical facilities in Norway, or have already been discharged.

"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 next sailing, which was scheduled to embark on March 27, has been canceled.

Evacuated passengers treated for bruising, broken bones, cuts

The Norwegian Red Cross, which was treating passengers from the stricken cruise ship at an evacuation center in Hustadvika, on Norway's western coast, said that they were seeing injuries including bruising, broken bones and cuts.

More than 400 people rescued from stranded cruise ship

From CNN's Zahid Mahmood

Rescuers have evacuated 418 people by helicopter from the Viking Sky cruise ship, a day after the vessel was stranded in rough seas off Norway with 1,300 passengers and crew on board.

“There are at least two or three helicopters still rescuing people from the cruise ship but there is only one helicopter in operation at one given time because of the weather,” a spokesperson from Norwegian rescue services (HRS Southern Norway) told CNN.

“They work in rotations because it is not possible to hoist people from two helicopters working at one time.”

Passengers aboard the stricken ship say the vessel is being tossed about by wind and waves as they continue to await rescue .

Three of the ship's four engines are now working, and tug boats are trying to move the ship to shore.

Americans airlifted from cruise ship describe frightening scenes on board

Two American passengers who were airlifted off the Norway cruise ship told CNN affiliate Dagbladet about the frightening scene on board.

"Furniture would slide across the room, slide back and with it came people and glass. It was a very dangerous situation frankly," Jan Terbruegen said.

Speaking at the Scandic Hotel Alexandra, where many of the evacuated passengers are staying, Terbruegen described seeing the ship drifting toward rocks before being evacuated.

"We could see that we were getting blown in toward some rocks. That was the most frightening thing I think. But luckily that wasn't our destiny," Terbruegen said.

Beth Clark, another American passenger, said she was hoisted 100 feet in the air onto a Coast Guard helicopter from the ship. She praised the Norwegian Coast Guard, Viking Sky crew and others for help with the evacuation efforts.

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Norwegian cruise ship loses power after it was hit by rogue wave in North Sea

A Norwegian cruise ship with more than 250 passengers on board lost power on Thursday, Dec. 21, after the vessel encountered a rogue wave during a storm, the cruise company HX said.

The MS Maud sustained a temporary loss of power while sailing to Tilbury, England, from Florø, Norway, HX said in a statement to NBC News. No serious injuries were reported among the 266 passengers and 131 crew members, according to HX.

"The condition of the ship remains stable and the crew are able to sail under their own power," a spokesperson for HX said.

The Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said in a statement to NBC News the ship's crew is navigating the vessel manually via emergency systems, and that two civilian support ships are helping to navigate the waters in the North Sea .

HX said after following ongoing safety checks and technical assessments, the company amended the ship's planned route to sail to Bremerhaven, Germany, for disembarkation.

"Our team are working to arrange onward travel back home for guests onboard," a spokesperson for the company said.

The storm's hurricane-force winds smashed windows on the MS Maud, and passengers aboard described the frightening situation.

Dorothy Hallam, a passenger on board, wrote on social media, "We've been sat on the floor in our muster stations for hours wearing our safety suits and life jackets and there's no sign of us being allowed up any time soon. We were thrown about a lot."

Ian Roberts, another passenger, wrote on Facebook about the unexpected change in holiday plans.

"Sorry for those whose Christmas treat has been spoiled. However, crew on board Maud have been exemplary in looking after us in what was initially quite a tricky situation," Roberts said.

The MS Maud isn't the first ship to encounter rough seas in the North Sea — dramatic videos of huge waves crashing in the area have become a source of fascination on TikTok.

While the waters of the North Sea can be turbulent, marine experts said it's generally safe for the hundreds of thousands of ships that pass through every year.

norwegian cruise ship rescue

Anna Kaplan is a news and trending reporter for TODAY.com.

Norwegian Cruise Ship Rescues Refugees in Makeshift Sailboat

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  • The Norwegian cruise ship Prima rescued 12 refugees from a makeshift sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico on January 27, 2024.
  • The refugees, who showed signs of emaciation and dehydration, had been adrift since December 18, 2023, and were provided medical care by the cruise ship.
  • This rescue is part of a series of recent maritime rescues in the region, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian challenges at sea.

In a remarkable act of humanitarian aid, the Norwegian Prima cruise ship rescued twelve refugees stranded at sea. The refugees were discovered adrift in a makeshift sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico on January 27, 2024, during the cruise ship’s voyage from Galveston, Texas.

The rescue operation unfolded in the Yucatan Peninsula, 200 nautical miles from Cancun, Mexico, on the first day of Norwegian Prima’s voyage. The Prima-class cruise ship identified the precarious craft, which was cobbled together from materials such as plastic jugs, foam, wood, and sheet metal.

12 refugees in a makeshift boat before being rescued by the cruise ship norwegian prima

Twelve individuals were aboard the distressed craft with limited water and no food. The nine men and three women managed to catch the attention of the ship’s crew using a mirror to signal for help.

Upon discovery, the cruise ship dispatched a lifeboat to assist the refugees, who were found in a state of emaciation and dehydration. Reports suggest that the refugees’ craft had been adrift since December 18, 2023, which implies that they had been at sea for over a month without adequate food or water.

@agrandquest 🆘 🛳️ 🛟 #cruisenorwegian #norwegianprima #gulfofmexico #refugeerescue #oceanshenanigans ♬ original sound – Audrey

It’s not known where the refugees began their journey.

Norwegian Prima crew members promptly provided the refugees with medical care and essential supplies before transferring them to the Mexican authorities in Costa Maya.

This rescue operation did not significantly alter the Norwegian Prima’s itinerary, which included stops at Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatan Island, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to Galveston, Texas.

This incident is part of a series of recent rescues in the region, highlighting the increasing instances of refugees and distressed individuals at sea. Just two days after the Norwegian Prima’s rescue, another cruise ship, the Carnival Jubilee, performed a similar operation in the same area. Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas also rescued six fishermen and their dog earlier in January.

The occurrence of these rescues, especially during the calmer weather of the winter months, underscores the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by individuals attempting perilous sea journeys. The proactive and compassionate response of the cruise ships’ crews in these situations is commendable and aligns with the maritime tradition of aiding those in distress at sea.

Marcello De Lio

Marcello De Lio

Marcello's been cruising since he was 12 years old. He loves the freedom that cruising provides, meeting new people, and exploring amazing new ships. Marcello created High Seas Cruising to share his passion for cruising and travel with readers and grow a community of passionate voyagers.

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  • International

Evacuation of passengers has ended as cruise ship travels to Norway port

By Eliza Mackintosh and Kendall Trammell , CNN

Evacuation of passengers has ended as cruise ship travels to port

The evacuation of passengers from a cruise ship off the western coast of Norway has come to an end as the vessel safely makes its way to Molde harbor, Viking Ocean Cruises said in a statement.

Rescue teams airlifted 479 people from the vessel after it was stranded in stormy seas Saturday with 1,300 passengers and crew on board.

The Viking Sky cruise ship, which regained engine power on Sunday morning, is traveling to Molde accompanied by two supply ships and one tug assist vessel. There are 436 guests and 458 crew still remaining on the ship.

Twenty people sustained injuries on the vessel, which was being tossed about by wind and waves, Viking Ocean Cruises said. All are being treated at medical facilities in Norway, or have already been discharged.

"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 next sailing, which was scheduled to embark on March 27, has been canceled.

Evacuated passengers treated for bruising, broken bones, cuts

The Norwegian Red Cross, which was treating passengers from the stricken cruise ship at an evacuation center in Hustadvika, on Norway's western coast, said that they were seeing injuries including bruising, broken bones and cuts.

More than 400 people rescued from stranded cruise ship

From CNN's Zahid Mahmood

Rescuers have evacuated 418 people by helicopter from the Viking Sky cruise ship, a day after the vessel was stranded in rough seas off Norway with 1,300 passengers and crew on board.

“There are at least two or three helicopters still rescuing people from the cruise ship but there is only one helicopter in operation at one given time because of the weather,” a spokesperson from Norwegian rescue services (HRS Southern Norway) told CNN.

“They work in rotations because it is not possible to hoist people from two helicopters working at one time.”

Passengers aboard the stricken ship say the vessel is being tossed about by wind and waves as they continue to await rescue .

Three of the ship's four engines are now working, and tug boats are trying to move the ship to shore.

Americans airlifted from cruise ship describe frightening scenes on board

Two American passengers who were airlifted off the Norway cruise ship told CNN affiliate Dagbladet about the frightening scene on board.

"Furniture would slide across the room, slide back and with it came people and glass. It was a very dangerous situation frankly," Jan Terbruegen said.

Speaking at the Scandic Hotel Alexandra, where many of the evacuated passengers are staying, Terbruegen described seeing the ship drifting toward rocks before being evacuated.

"We could see that we were getting blown in toward some rocks. That was the most frightening thing I think. But luckily that wasn't our destiny," Terbruegen said.

Beth Clark, another American passenger, said she was hoisted 100 feet in the air onto a Coast Guard helicopter from the ship. She praised the Norwegian Coast Guard, Viking Sky crew and others for help with the evacuation efforts.

Ship is now moving at a 'slow pace,' Joint Rescue Centre for Southern Norway says

The stranded Norway cruise ship has restarted with three of four engines now working, Joint Rescue Centre for Southern Norway spokesman Per Fjeld tells CNN.

The ship is moving at a slow pace and the evacuation operation is still going as planned, he says.

Two tug boats are attempting to pull the ship to shore, but there is no estimated time on how long it'll take, Fjeld says. 

Passenger waiting 15 hours for rescue says, 'we need off this ship!'

A passenger aboard the Viking Sky cruise ship wrote on Twitter that he has been waiting 15 hours to be evacuated from the stranded vessel.

"We need off this ship!" Ryan Flynn shared on Twitter along with a video of passengers wearing orange life vests.

Flynn also said that the ship "continues to pitch and roll" and called the conditions "miserable."

But another passenger, David Hernandez, had a rosier outlook. "Crew has been fantastic keeping everyone calm and fed," he wrote on Twitter.

The cruise ship was headed toward Stavanger

norwegian cruise ship rescue

Passengers were on a 12-day Northern Lights cruise that departed from Bergen, Norway on March 14. The ship was visiting different Norwegian towns and cities before arriving at its final destination of London Tillbury, England on March 26. 

The Viking Sky left Tromso on March 21 at 10:20 p.m. local time, according to Marine Traffic . It's estimated time of arrival at Stavanger shows March 24 at 1 p.m.

What we know about the Viking Sky cruise ship

norwegian cruise ship rescue

Here's what we know so far about the Viking Sky cruise ship that is evacuating 1,300 passengers and crew:

  • It's owned by Viking Ocean Cruises
  • It was built in 2017
  • It can hold maximum of 1,443 passengers and crew
  • It has six engines, four diesel and two electric

Here are the phone numbers for questions about any passengers

The Joint Rescue Centre says the evacuation from the Viking Sky cruise ship is proceeding with caution.

Rescuers are facing waves of about 6-8 meters (roughly 19-26 feet) high, a spokesperson said .

If you're trying to reach someone on the ship, here are the phone numbers:

  • US/AU booked guests: 1-888-889-8837
  • UK booked guests: 07585 779 853 or 0208 780 7900

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Norwegian cruise ship with 266 passengers loses ability to navigate

A Norwegian cruise ship with more than 250 passengers on board lost power during a storm in the North Sea, leaving it unable to navigate. A major rescue operation is now underway. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk reports for TODAY.

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Norwegian cruise ship loses navigation ability in North Sea during storm

A handout image of the Norwegian cruise ship MS Maud, in Westfjords

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norwegian cruise ship rescue

Thomson Reuters

Based in Copenhagen, Jacob oversees reporting from Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Specializes in security and geopolitics in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions, as well as large corporates such as brewer Carlsberg and shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk. His most impactful reporting on Arctic issues include a report on how NATO allies are slowly waking up to Russian supremacy in the region, uncovering how Greenland represents a security black hole for Denmark and its allies, and how an abundance of critical minerals has proven a curse for Greenland. Before moving to Copenhagen in 2016, Jacob spent seven years in Moscow covering Russia's oil and gas industry for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal, followed by four years in Singapore covering energy markets for WSJ and Reuters. As a Russian speaker, he has been involved in covering the war in Ukraine. He publishes a newsletter each weekday focused on the most important regional and global news. Contact Jacob via email if you are interested in receiving the newsletter.

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norwegian cruise ship rescue

Galveston-based Norwegian, Carnival cruise ships make dramatic Gulf rescues

M ajor cruise lines pride themselves on the dizzying array of entertainment activities available on their ships—water slides, roller coasters, mini-golf, comedy clubs, day spas, etc. Still, it's hard to beat good old-fashioned unscripted drama: namely, two rescues at sea that happened within days, if not hours, of one another in the vicinity of ships based out of Galveston.

In the first episode, TikTok user Audrey (aka @agrandquest) narrates as crew members of the Norwegian Prima intercept what looks like a makeshift sailboat not long after departing Galveston last Friday. Sporting a substantial twang, Audrey relates how she and a friend were playing darts, "having a good old time," until they heard the announcement that the ship had to turn around because the crew had spotted several people on a smaller boat "desperately trying to get our attention."

"Listen—I'm nervous," Audrey says. "What if they're pirates?"

"I thought they were taking us back to Galveston," her friend adds.

"Oh my God," Audrey says. "If we pick them up, do we have to go back to Galveston?"

Some time later, the other boat comes into view: a rectangular craft with a large white sail, fashioned from what Audrey thinks might be plywood, and carrying at least nine people. A few clothes are tied to the sail; a number of white containers, no doubt for drinking water, are attached to the side. It looks tiny and miserable.

"That is definitely a makeshift boat," Audrey says. "There's wood, plastic, metal, and something else."

"It looks like it's going to tip over," adds someone else.

The next shot shows one of Norwegian's yellow lifeboats, at least three times bigger than the sailboat, in the water. Passengers can be heard cheering as it approaches the side of the Prima, now with the apparent refugees in tow.

"I wonder if we're going to see them get off," Audrey wonders aloud. "I don't think we will."

The video picks up the next day with Audrey and her friend still en route to Costa Maya, Mexico, the Prima's first port of call. All of the impromptu passengers are still aboard, she reports. She's not sure where they are or what they're doing, she says, though she guesses they're probably in some kind of holding area.

"They probably have the drink package now," her friend jokes. "They're probably fully on board."

"They're enjoying all amenities," Audrey agrees. "We hope for their sake. What a blessing that would be."

In the last 24 hours Audrey’s video has been viewed more than 2.5 million times and drawn more than 4,200 comments. Her tale has inspired jokes about the 2013 Tom Hanks-led film "Captain Phillips" and its famous line, "I'm the captain now"; a distressing amount of anti-immigrant rhetoric; significantly more empathetic takes ("imagine how desperate you have to be to make a plywood boat to sail the ocean for a better life"); and stories of similar experiences ("on Harmony January 14-21 we stopped to help 5 fisherman from Cozumel & a dog that had been missing/stranded for 3 days").

When the Prima reached Costa Maya, Audrey and her friend paused for a brief update before disembarking. ( This video , posted later Monday, has racked up almost 347K views.) She saw three of the twelve people rescued come off the boat in wheelchairs, but she isn't sure what happened to the other nine. It turns out, though, that they had been at sea since December 19— five weeks before the Prima sailed out of Galveston—and had long since run out of food and water. The gravity of the situation seems to flash across her face, and for a moment Audrey sounds shaken: "Y'all, I can't," she says. 

But Audrey's upbeat tone quickly returns, and she explains that Norwegian's staff has arranged for the refugees to receive food, water, and medical treatment. She signs off with, "Hopefully they're getting taken care of, and we're good to go."

Thus far Norwegian's official media channels have been mum on the rescue, which is decidedly not the case with Carnival. Monday, according to the cruise line, crew members of the Carnival Jubilee spotted two men in a kayak off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and brought them on board.

In this case, Carnival's press release said—in considerably less detail than Audrey's story—that the men's boat had sunk and they had been been using the kayak to stay afloat. They were given food and first aid while Carnival officials arranged for their transfer to the Mexican navy, "which was completed shortly after the rescue," it continued.

The Jubilee, which began its weekly forays out of Galveston last month—trips which have so far been quite eventful —"is proceeding with its regular schedule and will visit Mahogany Bay, Roatan on Tuesday," Carnival said.

Houston

Norwegian cruise ship rescues 12 starving refugees

Passengers aboard the Norwegian "Prima" reveal a harrowing rescue as the metal, foam, and plastic jug-made boat, stranded since December 18th, was saved near Galveston.

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Cruise Ship Rescues 14 People Stranded at Sea for 8 Days as Passengers Look on in 'Shock': WATCH

'We could see in the waves a tiny boat," passenger Alessandra Amodio tells PEOPLE of the incident that happened aboard the Icon of the Seas on Sunday

norwegian cruise ship rescue

A cruise ship’s voyage to Mexico and the Bahamas turned into a rescue mission when the boat spotted a small vessel in the waves.

On Sunday, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas , the new world's largest cruise ship that launched in January, rescued 14 people who had been stranded at sea for over a week.

Icon passenger Alessandra Amodio told PEOPLE that the cruise ship was in the midst of an eight-day Caribbean itinerary when they spotted the individuals.

"I was in the lunch buffet with my family when we heard a coded announcement over the loud speakers," Amodio told PEOPLE, adding that the announcement came at around 3 p.m. local time. "A few minutes later people started gathering at the windows and then the captain came on and announced that they had found a distressed vessel and we would be turning around to investigate. We all rushed to the windows and in the nearish distance we could see in the waves a tiny boat waving either a large white flag or sheet."

Shortly after, the ship turned around and pulled up next to the boat and "deployed a small zodiac-type rescue boat," she recalls.

@alessandra_rosee/ LOCAL NEWS X/ TMX

"Eventually we saw Royal Caribbean crew helping about two people from the distressed boat onto the rescue boat before returning to the vessel. They then made a few more trips to safely bring everyone on board."

According to Amodio, they later found out that the passengers on the small boat had been "lost at sea for eight days."

Royal Caribibean

"We got a final announcement once they were all on board safely telling us there was 14 people on board," she said, adding that passengers clapped and cheered upon hearing everyone had been rescued safely.

"Our first reaction was shock, I’ve been on six or so cruises and I’ve never experienced anything even close to this," Amodio continued. "During the rescue everyone was more shocked and the general consensus was that this wasn’t something anyone ever thought would be happening. It was crazy to see, even knowing where they were in the water, once they dropped the flag, they were hard to spot. Just seeing this small boat you knew was filled with people surrounded by the vastness of the water was enough to freak you out. "

Royal Caribbean

The ship was on its first full day of sailing and it was between Cozumel, Mexico and western Cuba when the incident happened.

"We weren’t told by the captain or crew what happened to them," Amodio added of the rescued individuals.  

The cruise liner, which departed from Miami, Florida, was headed to Roatán, Honduras, and Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island, CocoCay, during its voyage.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Royal Caribbean told PEOPLE in a statement, "On March 3, 2024, Icon of the Seas encountered a small vessel adrift and in need of assistance. The ship's crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people onboard. The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard."

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told Newsweek that the rescue occurred in Mexico's search-and-rescue area of responsibility.

The Icon of the Seas made its maiden voyage out of South Florida in late January. The ship departed from Port Miami and docked at ports including Puerto Costa Maya in Mexico, Basseterre in St. Kitts & Nevis and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.

Along with the world’s largest pool and water park at sea, Icon also boasts eight "neighborhoods" to explore and an open-air "Central Park."

The record-breaking vessel overtook Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas , which formerly held the title of largest cruise ship in the world.

  • Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL Prima rescue of 12 at sea!

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By medicalma'am , January 28 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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laudergayle

Those brave souls setting out with the hopes of making it to the US.  I hope they are not from Cuba, as I believe they will be sent back to their Motherland.  Prayers for those who have been rescued 🙏🏻 .  Please do not interpret this post as an affirmative vote for open borders.  

LongIsland-Cruiser

54 minutes ago, laudergayle said: Those brave souls setting out with the hopes of making it to the US.  I hope they are not from Cuba, as I believe they will be sent back to their Motherland.  Prayers for those who have been rescued 🙏🏻 .  Please do not interpret this post as an affirmative vote for open borders.  

I hope we can be happy that 12 people did not die of exposure or drowning without making it political.  Let’s see.  

Beer Belly

Is it a requirement they disembark at the next port ?

puppycanducruise

puppycanducruise

Glad they saved those people.

2 hours ago, Beer Belly said: Is it a requirement they disembark at the next port ?

I believe so. My brother in law is with us. He was a CBP agent (Customs and Border Protection-immigration) for 30 years. He says when we dock in Costa Maya tomorrow the Mexican Immigration and Custom agents will take custody of them. They cannot continue on the ship having no documents. 

We were asked by the cruise director not to take pictures or video of them but, there are dramatic pictures on FB of anguished faces and the rudimentary home made ‘boat’ they were in. They were taken by someone with a Canon camera with a great lens. Those pictures are heart wrenching to see. 

Thanks

ChiefMateJRK

18 hours ago, laudergayle said: Those brave souls setting out with the hopes of making it to the US.  I hope they are not from Cuba, as I believe they will be sent back to their Motherland.  Prayers for those who have been rescued 🙏🏻 .  Please do not interpret this post as an affirmative vote for open borders.  

Time for me and many others on here to pause a moment and thank our great God in heaven for the blessed lives we've been given.

They were just taken by Mexican Government officials in 2 vans accompanied by their National Guard.  Some of them were in wheel chairs. Praying for them.    

I guess not Mexican, but thinking they were Cuban. I have no idea if Mexico and Cuba have any agreements about returning refugees. All I can do is pray. 

IMG_9238.jpeg

🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻

The captain announced after all were safely off ship, that they had been out to sea for 40 days. They had started out with a small motor that ended up quitting. He said they only had the sail after that and were depending on rain water. They did not end up where they wanted to go. There was at least one ambulance we noted, maybe two.   

I will never forget this experience and am so thankful. Thank you all for prayers for them!

Thank you for sharing.  It hurts my heart to know that people go to such extremes to escape their reality.  I honestly can’t imagine.   ❤️ 🙏🏻

Dperkins125

19 hours ago, laudergayle said: Thank you for sharing.  It hurts my heart to know that people go to such extremes to escape their reality.  I honestly can’t imagine.   ❤️ 🙏🏻

My thoughts as well.  This is definitely heart-wrenching, especially if they are forced to return to the same place and circumstances.  Shouldn’t no one be forced to live in any way they do not choose in the year 2024.

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Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift in the sea

Authorities say the crew of what is considered the world’s largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean

MIAMI -- The crew of what is considered the world's largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean, authorities said.

Passengers aboard the Icon of the Seas captured video of the crew using a small vessel to ferry the group to the safety of the cruise ship on Sunday. The cruise had begun in Miami, and the ship was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said.

The cruise ship encountered the small vessel “adrift and in need of assistance," Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people on board,” the company said. "The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.”

The crew broadcast “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar,” over the loudspeakers around 3 p.m., Alessandra Amodio said in a report on FoxWeather.com.

Amodio said she watched as people on the tiny craft waved a large white flag.

“The boat turned around, and we pulled up as close as we could to them and stopped,” Amodio said. The cruise ship then launched "a small zodiac-type rescue boat to investigate.”

After the rescue, Amodio said the cruise ship's captain announced that the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days.

The Icon of the Seas is considered by cruise industry experts to be the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment, the Miami Herald reported. It can host 5,610 guests and 2,350 crew members. The ship has 2,850 staterooms, 18 guest decks and seven swimming pools.

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Crew of the Giant Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship Rescues 14 People Adrift in the Sea

Authorities say the crew of what is considered the world’s largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean

MIAMI (AP) — The crew of what is considered the world's largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean, authorities said.

Passengers aboard the Icon of the Seas captured video of the crew using a small vessel to ferry the group to the safety of the cruise ship on Sunday. The cruise had begun in Miami, and the ship was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said.

The cruise ship encountered the small vessel “adrift and in need of assistance," Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people on board,” the company said. "The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.”

The crew broadcast “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar,” over the loudspeakers around 3 p.m., Alessandra Amodio said in a report on FoxWeather.com .

Amodio said she watched as people on the tiny craft waved a large white flag.

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A Maka Indigenous woman puts on make-up before protesting for the recovery of ancestral lands in Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Leader Mateo Martinez has denounced that the Paraguayan state has built a bridge on their land in El Chaco's Bartolome de las Casas, Presidente Hayes department. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

“The boat turned around, and we pulled up as close as we could to them and stopped,” Amodio said. The cruise ship then launched "a small zodiac-type rescue boat to investigate.”

After the rescue, Amodio said the cruise ship's captain announced that the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days.

The Icon of the Seas is considered by cruise industry experts to be the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment, the Miami Herald reported . It can host 5,610 guests and 2,350 crew members. The ship has 2,850 staterooms, 18 guest decks and seven swimming pools.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Norwegian Breakaway Rescue At Sea

Norwegian Breakaway in Italy

This article is Norwegian Breakaway Rescue At Sea. It is about Norwegian Breakaway assisting the Italian Coast Guard in rescuing around 200 migrant workers.

The featured image is from Norwegian Cruise line.

Norwegian Breakaway in Italy

Rescue At Sea

The Italian Coast Guard called Norwegian Breakaway to assist in a rescue at sea this week for 200 migrant workers. The migrant workers vessel suffered damaged and was drifting at sea.

The Italian Coast Guard provided a rescue operation.

As part of the rescue operation they called out to ships in the area. Norwegian Breakaway was closest to the area and responded immediately by providing support.

Two coast guard vessels were able to rescue the migrant workers with the assistance of Norwegian Breakaway and a container ship.

The rescue operation lasted approximately four-hours.

The Italian Coast Guard saved all the migrant workers!

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway is a 145,655 gross ton vessel that was on a 10-night Greek Isles and Italy sailing. The ship canceled a stop in Catania, Italy in order to assist in the rescue operation.

The guests were given an extra day at sea, which can be a nice thing on port intensive European cruises.

Safety At Sea

It is common practive that ships assist other vessels in distress at sea. In fact, this is part of international maritime law.

These types of rescue operations are more common than they were in the past.

Recently other ships assisted in rescue operations.

One such recent rescue was by Celebrity Beyond that I covered in previous article on Johnthewanderer.com.

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Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift in the sea

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MIAMI (AP) — The crew of what is considered the world’s largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean, authorities said.

Passengers aboard the Icon of the Seas captured video of the crew using a small vessel to ferry the group to the safety of the cruise ship on Sunday. The cruise had begun in Miami, and the ship was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said.

The cruise ship encountered the small vessel “adrift and in need of assistance,” Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people on board,” the company said. “The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.”

The crew broadcast “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar,” over the loudspeakers around 3 p.m., Alessandra Amodio said in a report on FoxWeather.com .

Amodio said she watched as people on the tiny craft waved a large white flag.

“The boat turned around, and we pulled up as close as we could to them and stopped,” Amodio said. The cruise ship then launched “a small zodiac-type rescue boat to investigate.”

A Charleston police officer closes off a portion of Market Street during heavy rains and flooding on Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Charleston, S.C. (Glenn Smith/The Post And Courier via AP)

After the rescue, Amodio said the cruise ship’s captain announced that the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days.

The Icon of the Seas is considered by cruise industry experts to be the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment, the Miami Herald reported . It can host 5,610 guests and 2,350 crew members. The ship has 2,850 staterooms, 18 guest decks and seven swimming pools.

norwegian cruise ship rescue

norwegian cruise ship rescue

First refuelling for Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

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norwegian cruise ship rescue

The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactor units. In such reactors, nuclear fuel is not replaced in the same way as in standard NPPs – partial replacement of fuel once every 12-18 months. Instead, once every few years the entire reactor core is replaced with and a full load of fresh fuel.

The KLT-40S reactor cores have a number of advantages compared with standard NPPs. For the first time, a cassette core was used, which made it possible to increase the fuel cycle to 3-3.5 years before refuelling, and also reduce by one and a half times the fuel component in the cost of the electricity produced. The operating experience of the FNPP provided the basis for the design of the new series of nuclear icebreaker reactors (series 22220). Currently, three such icebreakers have been launched.

The Akademik Lomonosov was connected to the power grid in December 2019, and put into commercial operation in May 2020.

Electricity generation from the FNPP at the end of 2023 amounted to 194 GWh. The population of Pevek is just over 4,000 people. However, the plant can potentially provide electricity to a city with a population of up to 100,000. The FNPP solved two problems. Firstly, it replaced the retiring capacities of the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which has been operating since 1974, as well as the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant, which is more than 70 years old. It also supplies power to the main mining enterprises located in western Chukotka. In September, a 490 km 110 kilovolt power transmission line was put into operation connecting Pevek and Bilibino.

Image courtesy of TVEL

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norwegian cruise ship rescue

Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift in the sea

MIAMI — The crew of what is considered the world’s largest cruise ship rescued 14 people clinging to a small boat adrift on the ocean, authorities said.

Passengers aboard the Icon of the Seas captured video of the crew using a small vessel to ferry the group to the safety of the cruise ship on Sunday. The cruise had begun in Miami, and the ship was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said.

The cruise ship encountered the small vessel “adrift and in need of assistance,” Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people on board,” the company said. “The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.”

The crew broadcast “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar,” over the loudspeakers around 3 p.m., Alessandra Amodio said in a report on FoxWeather.com .

Amodio said she watched as people on the tiny craft waved a large white flag.

“The boat turned around, and we pulled up as close as we could to them and stopped,” Amodio said. The cruise ship then launched “a small zodiac-type rescue boat to investigate.”

After the rescue, Amodio said the cruise ship’s captain announced that the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days.

The Icon of the Seas is considered by cruise industry experts to be the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment, the Miami Herald reported . It can host 5,610 guests and 2,350 crew members. The ship has 2,850 staterooms, 18 guest decks and seven swimming pools.

norwegian cruise ship rescue

Home

  • Norwegian Bokmål

Russia Sends Nuclear Fuel Across Arctic on Ship with History of Safety Violations

Smp Arkhangelsk in Pevek.

Weeks after sending crude oil on non-ice class tankers through the Arctic, Russian authorities shipped nuclear fuel across the Northern Sea Route on a cargo ship not specialized in the transport of nuclear fuel. Ship records also show a host of safety deficiencies during past inspections. The nuclear fuel traveled from Murmansk to Pevek to resupply the floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov.

norwegian cruise ship rescue

Norsk versjon

Five years after towing the world’s only floating nuclear power plant into the Arctic, Russia’s State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, delivered a fresh batch of nuclear fuel to the facility.

The nuclear material traveled along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Murmansk to Pevek aboard the cargo ship Smp Arkhangelsk . 

Ship records indicate that the vessel has a long history of safety violations and deficiencies recorded during inspections over the last decade. The vessel’s owner, Northern Shipping Company, has also been under sanctions by the US since May 2022. 

The transport of nuclear fuel customarily occurs on highly specialized vessels under strict international guidelines. The carrying of nuclear fuel on a conventional cargo ship across the Arctic’s icy waters is a cause for concern, according to industry experts interviewed by HNN. 

The nuclear fuel was manufactured by Rosatom fuel company “TVEL” in Elektrostal near Moscow before it was dispatched aboard Smp Arkhangelsk from Murmansk on September 15. The vessel arrived in Pevek 10 days later and took up position next to Akademik Lomonosov.

Based on satellite images analyzed by HNN the transfer of fuel took approximately 10 days.

Smp Arkhangelsk satellite.

A history of deficiencies

The vessel, constructed in 2002 by Damen Shipyard in Romania, has passed through the hands of seven different owners before arriving with its current operator, Northern Shipping Company. 

Port inspections going back more than a decade reveal violations ranging from missing voyage data recorder, lack of rescue boats and defect fire pumps, to inoperative auxiliary engines and MARPOL pollution prevention violations. 

While some of the violations were minor and none were severe enough to necessitate the detention of the vessel, they do paint a picture of an aging ship with ongoing deficiencies. Available public records also do not show any inspections since 2021.

Smp Arkhangelsk violations overview.

“Considering this a voyage with dangerous cargo, it is pushing the limits,” explains Sigurd Enge, Senior Advisor on Shipping at Bellona Foundation, an international environmental NGO headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

“The risk connected to this vessel, on the Northern Sea Route in October is high, and based on their [safety inspection] track record, is very high,” continues Enge, who is one of the most experienced advisers at Bellona, working on marine safety.

“The Port State Controls with violation indicates that there is a high risk that an incident can occur. And with a history of lack of safety equipment, inadequate propulsion and auxiliary machinery, certificates and fire pumps, an incident can quickly turn into a serious event in terms of firefighting, safety equipment and skills.”

Smp Arkhangelsk violation sample

Not following international customs

The transport of nuclear materials in international waters is highly regulated, with a short list of specialized vessels, such as British freighters Pacific Egret or Pacific Grebe , doing the work. Nuclear material must also be stored in highly secured containers. 

The use of a ship not specialized in the transport of nuclear fuel shows limited options available to Russia “as there are ships that carry out this type of loading in Europe, for example,” explains Hervé Baudu, Chief Professor of Maritime Education at the French Maritime Academy (ENSM)

“This is clearly a case where Russia is proceeding in its own waters and territories with the means at its disposal. Admittedly, the ship does not comply with international requirements, but let's hope that the containers carrying the waste or fuel do,” he continues.

Based on the type deficiencies and where they were registered the ship is “not used to international customs and regulations,” explains Baudu. 

Risks related to time of year

The vessel’s lower Arc4 ice-class is also a cause for concern, with Enge calling it “not so reassuring.”

“To operate on the NSR at this time of year involves a risk. In October, the ice conditions can change fast, with new ice formation and strong wind and various temperatures the ice cover can move fast.”

It seems that the authorities are willing to carry out voyages ‘at any cost’. Hervé Baudu, Chief Professor of Maritime Education at the French Maritime Academy

Given the possibility of rapidly changing conditions, including weather and ice conditions, “the risk for dangerous cargo transport with not well-equipped ships is unacceptable,” concludes Sigurd. 

This holds especially true given Russia’s history related to the dumping of radioactive materials and sunken submarines across the Arctic in the Barents and the Kara Sea. 

Pushing ahead despite sanctions

The shipment of nuclear fuel follows the initial transport of crude oil to China across the Arctic on aging non-ice class oil tankers a few weeks ago.

“We are seeing violations of environmental rights with oil tankers from a fleet that is black and potentially dangerous as long as there is war in Ukraine,” elaborates Baudu. 

Enge concurs that sanctions have impacted operations on the NSR.

“The need to use the route for transport eastward makes the government more willing to push the limits for safety and “clean and safe operations in general. It seems that the authorities are willing to carry out voyages ‘at any cost’.”

Rosatom and TVEL did not respond to requests for comment.

Leonid Loza.

Russia Sends Oil Tanker Without Ice Protection Through Arctic For First Time

belokamenka construction yard Novatek

Putin Green-lights Novatek’s Massive Murmansk LNG Project

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Taxes, Exercises, and Sanctions

Uniting for women's right to bodily autonomy: it is about decolonization, "the barents region has a pr problem", from alaska to northern norway: will practice rapid deployment of us paratroopers, uk aircraft carrier in the north: “a formidable show of strength”, are we going to be silent spectators of donald trump's military march into the arctic, pm støre: "norway will reach nato's 2 percent target already this year", the norwegian mod believes the russian nuclear threat to be real.

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    The featured image is from Norwegian Cruise line. Norwegian Breakaway in Italy - Photo by Norwegian Cruise Line Rescue At Sea. The Italian Coast Guard called Norwegian Breakaway to assist in a rescue at sea this week for 200 migrant workers. The migrant workers vessel suffered damaged and was drifting at sea. The Italian Coast Guard provided ...

  19. World's Largest Cruise Ship Makes Heroic Rescue at Sea

    Norwegian Cruise Line Tips. ... Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, ... The ship's crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people onboard. ...

  20. Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift

    After the rescue, Amodio said the cruise ship's captain announced that the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days. The Icon of the Seas is considered by cruise industry experts to be the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment, the Miami Herald reported.It can host 5,610 guests and 2,350 crew members.

  21. Elektrostal

    History. It was known as Zatishye (Зати́шье) until 1928. [citation needed] In 1938, it was granted town status.[citation needed]Administrative and municipal status. Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Elektrostal City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.

  22. Refuelling underway at Russia's floating NPP

    Refuelling is underway at the world's only floating NPP (FNPP), the Akademik Lomonosov, moored at the city of Pevek, in Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The supply of fuel was transported along the Northern Sea Route. The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactor units. In such reactors, nuclear fuel is not replaced in the same way as in standard ...

  23. Norwegian Cruise Ship Rescues 4 People Stranded at Sea

    Norwegian Getaway Rescue. While the Norwegian cruise ship had not long departed its homeport in Miami, Florida cruise passengers spotted a flash of light. After informing the ship crew about the ...

  24. First refuelling for Russia's Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

    Rosatom's fuel company TVEL has supplied nuclear fuel for reactor 1 of the world's only floating NPP (FNPP), the Akademik Lomonosov, moored at the city of Pevek, in Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The supply of fuel was transported along the Northern Sea Route. The first ever refuelling of the FNPP is planned to begin before the end of ...

  25. Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift

    The cruise had begun in Miami, and the ship was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said. Get a curated selection of 10 of our best stories in your inbox every weekend.

  26. Russia Sends Nuclear Fuel Across Arctic on Ship with History of Safety

    Weeks after sending crude oil on non-ice class tankers through the Arctic, Russian authorities shipped nuclear fuel across the Northern Sea Route on a cargo ship not specialized in the transport of nuclear fuel. Ship records also show a host of safety deficiencies during past inspections. The nuclear fuel traveled from Murmansk to Pevek to resupply the floating nuclear power plant Akademik ...

  27. Carnival Ship Responds to Emergency, Rescues Six After ...

    Carnival Vista Rescue. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Vista rescued six men near the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, after a small cargo vessel ...