Cruise ship Viking Vela has steering problem

[ombugge]

The cruise ship Viking Vela, on her way way from Ijmuiden to Narvik has steering problem and is heading to Ålesund for shelter and repairs:

Cruiseskip sliter med styringen – går til kai i Ålesund

– They themselves have chosen to go to Ålesund for inspection and repairs, says Middelthon to TV 2.
“This is not an emergency and not a rescue operation. They have not requested assistance,” he added.

Source: Marine traffic

“Viking Vela” at the cruise terminal in London on Friday.
Photo: Fraser Gray/Shutterstock / Shutterstock editorial

PS> Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Hopen is following the Viking Vela just in case: KV Hopen | Lmg Marin

[ombugge]

Arrived safely in Ålesund

Here is the ship on its way to Stornespiren in Ålesund. The ship docked just before 9:30 pm this evening. Photo: Karl-Petter Løvoll

According to the Main Rescue Center, no rescue operation was initiated or there was any acute danger to those on board.
– The ship has propulsion problems. We choose to go to port, said rescue leader at the Main Rescue Centre South, Edvard Middelthon, to VG .
The ship can accommodate 998 passengers and was launched last year. It has a crew of 465 people.

According to the Meteorological Institute, there was a strong storm earlier in the day at Stad, around where the ship was located.
The ship set course for Ålesund on Monday afternoon, accompanied by the coast guard vessel KV Hopen.
Shortly before 9 p.m., several people in the area could see the ship approaching Ålesund. They were accompanied by tugboats.

Source: Cruiseskip har problemer utenfor Ålesund - smp.no

[ombugge]

Still alongside at the Cruise Centre:

I have not seen or heard any news on when she will be moving on, or on the exact reason for the problem.

Update:
Interview with two of the passengers: (Video)

(+) – Gjorde så godt vi kunne for å klore oss fast

Several media outlets have reported that there were problems with the propulsion. Passengers Sunnmørsposten has spoken to have the impression that it was the stabilizer system that failed.

The couple Jane and Todd Darcey from South Florida (see video) also have only good things to say about how they have been taken care of by the ship’s crew:
“The seas were rough, around 45 meters per second wind and 15 meters high waves, and we did our best to hold on. The crew did what they could to keep us as safe as possible, and the captain kept coming over the loudspeaker with updated information to make us feel safe,” says Todd.

Sunnmørsposten caught up with Jane and Miguel from Virginia.as they were returning to the ship after a walk around Ålesund city center. They say that despite the frightening experience, they are very satisfied with both the information and follow-up they have received from the ship’s management:
– We were told to stay in our cabins and that the ship would turn around and head for Ålesund. We were only allowed to leave at a quarter past six in the morning. But we were given good information the whole time, and towards the end of the day we were treated to a very good lunch. Overall, we have the impression that the ship has very good routines for crisis management, they praise.
After turning 180 degrees, the ship was guided into Ålesund by the coast guard vessel KV Hopen and several tugboats. However, the ship is said to have proceeded under its own power, without towing assistance, and docked at Stornespiren last night.

“Viking Vela” was actually supposed to be in Narvik now, before the ship continued on to Tromsø and Alta. There, the plan was to turn south again, before the whole thing ended in Bergen on January 22. What happens next is still uncertain:
– We have been told that we will not be leaving Ålesund today, Tuesday, at least. Maybe we will be able to continue tomorrow, and hopefully we will at least take in a couple of ports to the north before we turn south towards Bergen, says the couple from Virginia.

Source: – Gjorde så godt vi kunne for å klore oss fast - smp.no (Behind paywall)

[ombugge]

Still here:

[ombugge]

Still here:

Well moored against strong W’ly wind (Gust to 52 kts.)
Not many of the guests and crews walking the streets today.

From smp.no webcam

Viking Cruise Ship Remains Docked in Port Due to Storms

The ship, which experienced severe weather and subsequent propulsion problems during its fourth-ever voyage, was expected to resume sailing on January 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. local time.

However, passengers reported that the captain had announced additional delays due to ongoing adverse weather conditions in the North Atlantic.
Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows the vessel still in Ålesund after the scheduled departure time, with weather maps in the Norwegian Sea noting wind speeds up to 45 miles per hour.

On January 17, gusts could reach speeds up to 61 miles per hour, further trapping Viking Vela at port.

Weather conditions are not expected to improve until the afternoon of January 18.

PS> The wind is forecast to drop to 20 kts, (gust to 32 kts. by 20:00 hrs. this evening:

Værvarsel time for time for Ålesund

[ombugge]

She left from Ålesund at 21:05 hrs. bound for Eidsfjord:

All port north have been cancelled, No Northern Lights seen on this cruise, but they got to experience North West Norway at it’s worst.

Update:
Appears she is taking the shelter inner fairway on the way south.
PS> She still have to get out in open waters to get around the Stad Peninsula, the most notoriously bad stretch between Ålesund and Eidsfjord:

According to the nearest meteorological weather station, the area experiences between 45 to 106 stormy days per year. Even when the winds die down, the heavy waves continue, and ships often have to wait days for a safe passage.The combination of wind, currents and waves has caused 46 accidents and near-accidents and 33 deaths in the last few decades.
All this is why the Norwegian Coastal Administration is building the world’s first ship tunnel.

Source: Norway has one of the world’s most dangerous coastlines. So it’s building a huge tunnel for ships | by World Economic Forum | World Economic Forum | Medium

[ombugge]

They took the outside route from Stad to Fedje, but there appears to have been a change of mind in Hjeltefjorden:

They plan to enter the inside fairway at Marsteinen. Destination still Eidfjord, with ETA tomorrow at 08:00 hrs.: