A couple who survived what has been likened to an “almost Titanic-like” near-disaster on a cruise ship have shared their harrowing experience as they narrowly avoided catastrophe.
Steven and Judith Metcalfe from Australia were among the 915 passengers on the Viking Sky, embarking on a dream journey to see the Northern Lights when the vessel encountered severe trouble off the Norwegian coast on March 23, 2019.
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Their idyllic holiday turned into a nightmare when the Viking Sky was battered by extremely strong winds, rough seas, and towering 15-metre waves while en route to Stavanger, Norway.
The situation escalated dramatically when all of the ship’s engines lost power, and it began drifting perilously close to the rocky shoreline.
For Steven and Judith, the ordeal was terrifying. The relentless crashing of the waves against the ship sounded like “loud explosions,” and they were left staring at an “angry sea,” uncertain of what was happening.
Judith recalled the chilling realization that she would not survive if she ended up in the water, while Steven admitted they were both “frightened to death.”
The crew’s efforts to stabilize the ship included dropping anchors and attempting to attach towlines with tugboats, but the violent waves continued to thrash the vessel, breaking through doors and windows.
Passengers described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, with furniture flying and plates shattering, creating a chaotic and frightening environment.
Judith and Steven were in one of the ship’s cafes when the engines failed. Steven noted the sudden loss of power when the pizza oven lights went out, and a pizza almost shot out at him. They soon realized the gravity of the situation as the ship began to list and they were left broadside to the swell.
As the crisis deepened, the Viking Sky’s crew managed to restart one engine, averting disaster by keeping the ship from crashing into the rocky shore just 100 meters away. According to retired cruise ship captain Michael Lloyd, the situation was perilously close to being a complete tragedy, potentially resulting in a thousand deaths.
An evacuation order was issued, and Steven and Judith prepared to be winched off the ship by helicopter. They sent a text message to their children, informing them of the situation: “Houston, we have a problem… we are going to be evacuated from the Viking Sky by helicopter as one engine has stopped and the seas are huge.”
The couple described the evacuation process as surreal and terrifying. Judith recounted the experience of being winched up in the pitch black, with only the sound of the helicopter above and the ship rocking below. Over 400 passengers were evacuated via helicopter before the weather calmed enough to tow the ship back to harbor with the remaining passengers on board.
Following the incident, Norway’s Accident Investigations Board launched a probe to determine why the cruise ship had set sail despite warnings of “high risk” conditions. The Norwegian Maritime Authority concluded that the engine failure was “directly caused” by low oil pressure, noting that the lubricating oil levels, though within set limits, were relatively low when the vessel began crossing the dangerous Hustadvika stretch.
A Viking Cruises spokesperson acknowledged the findings and expressed their commitment to preventing a recurrence. They stated: “We welcome the prompt and efficient investigation carried out by the Norwegian Maritime Authority and fully understand and acknowledge their findings. We have inspected the levels on all our sister ships and are now revising our procedures to ensure that this issue could not be repeated.”
The couple’s terrifying ordeal underscores the dangers of maritime travel in severe weather and the importance of rigorous safety protocols to protect passengers and crew.
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