Hurtigruten ship Kong Harald ran aground in a remote fjord in the north of Norway last night. The vessel, carrying 258 passengers and 57 crew, hit a rock at the entrance to the narrow Trollfjord, shortly before midnight.
Although the ship’s hull was breached, the only part affected was the main ballast tank. The ship remained upright and was freed after about three hours as the tide rose.
It proceeded to Svolvaer, in the Lofoten islands, where the passengers – including 16 from the UK – were disembarked. The scheduled sailing has been cancelled, and guests are being flown home today. The ship is sailing to the dry dock at Fisker Verft in Fiskerstrand for repairs.
Hurtigruten’s ships sail a regular scheduled service year-round carrying passengers, cars and freight along the coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. The service is particularly popular in the winter months among passengers hoping to see the Northern Lights.
►Adventure cruise ship National Geographic Sea Lion hit a rock off the coast of Panama, causing damage to the hull and one propeller. The incident occurred three days into an eight-day voyage through the Panama Canal and visiting Costa Rica.
None of the 55 passengers and 35 crew on board was injured; the ship returned to Panama City under its own power and the remainder of the cruise was abandoned. The ship will be repaired in dry dock and is expected to be back in service by March 16.
Ah well, at least they got as far as a fjord, unlike Cruise & Maritime Voyages ‘Discovery’ passengers whose ninaugural Norgewian cruise only got as far as Portland because the MCA issued a Detention Notice forbidding it to set sail until: “owners and crew undertake revisions to their safety management system.”
Have been down that fjord on a Saga Cruise, and it is a tad narrow :-)but well worth the trip