What would happen if a cruise liner suddenly found itself without power in the middle of the Arctic? After narrowly averting a maritime disaster, Norway is mulling the safety of cruise ships in the Far North.

Thanks to well-trained professionals and a good dose of luck, the 1,373 people on board the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stricken-norway-cruise-ship-reaches-port-after-airlift-drama-205421">Viking Sky, the ship that suffered an engine failure</a> in stormy season Saturday, escaped the experience with just a harrowing tale to tell.

The incident led to a spectacular air rescue operation: almost 500 passengers were winched off the ship by helicopters fighting strong winds, some in the dark.

The vessel, which came close to being swept onto perilous reefs with a potentially catastrophic human and environmental toll, was finally able to make its way to a nearby port, after getting three of its engines running.&nbsp;

The engines are believed to have failed due to low oil pressure, maritime authorities said on Wednesday.

"Most of the people on board the Viking Sky would have died if the ship had run aground, because of the extreme weather conditions, the ship's movements, a severe list, and a slow evacuation," said two professors from the University of Trondheim's department of marine technology.

"What would the consequences have been if this had happened in Finnmark, or near &nbsp;Svalbard?," Ingrid Bouwer Utne and Jan Erik Vinnem wrote in financial daily Dagens Naeringsliv.

Finnmark is the northernmost county in mainland Norway, while Svalbard (also known as Spitzberg) is an archipelago located about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole.

Both regions are hugely popular in the cruise industry because of their pristine and exotic wilderness, the Northern Lights and polar bears -- but they are poorly equipped for a rescue mission.&nbsp;

Exclude the biggest?&nbsp;

Six helicopters were able to be quickly dispatched to evacuate the Viking Sky, as it found itself relatively close to an area with offshore oil installations.

Svalbard and Finnmark meanwhile each have just two rescue helicopters.

In difficult conditions like those that prevailed last weekend and that prevented a sea rescue, how would hundreds or thousands of passengers be evacuated from a ship in distress?

In 2017, Svalbard registered 30 cruise ship dockings and 45,000 passengers, not including so-called exploration cruises with smaller vessels.

"We were lucky the Viking Sky didn't run aground," Erik Joachimsen, head of the professional association Cruise Northern Norway &amp; Svalbard, told AFP. "But you can't always count on luck."

The Norwegian Hurtigruten cruise company, which promotes itself as more environmental than the big cruise ships that run on heavy fuel oil, has called for size limits on ships navigating in remote and ecologically sensitive waters.

"The giant cruiseliners with thousands of passengers and heavy fuel oil pose a major environmental risk," managing director Daniel Skjeldam said.

"Gigantic cruise ships are not advisable everywhere," he said, insisting on the environmental aspect, which would also have the advantage of eliminating some competitors.

Regulate or ban?&nbsp;

"This summer, similar cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers will sail in Arctic waters and in other vulnerable regions, far from search and rescue facilities," lamented Sian Prior, an advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance campaign.

"In addition to the risk to lives, most of these vessels will be powered by oil-based fuels including heavy fuel oil, which pose a grave risk to the Arctic environment, and to the livelihoods of local indigenous people," she said.

A heavy fuel oil spill would be "likely to take from months to years to be completely cleaned up."

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg admitted Wednesday there were limits to what authorities could do in the event of a disaster.

"It's absolutely correct that in the Far North, we would have been faced with much bigger challenges... &nbsp;We don't have the capacity right now to handle this kind of situation," she said.

"The question will always be whether it's best to have large resources up north in case it happens, or whether we should look into other rules," she told parliament.

The International Maritime Organisation adopted a Polar Code in 2017 for ships operating in polar regions, requiring shipowners to meet a number of security and environmental standards.

But Norway, together with other countries bordering the Arctic, is also considering regulating navigation in the region.

The two University of Trondheim professors advocate a swift solution: "If we're not able to take sufficient measures, should we really allow cruiseships in these zones?"

What would happen if a cruise liner suddenly found itself without power in the middle of the Arctic? After narrowly averting a maritime disaster, Norway is mulling the safety of cruise ships in the Far North.

What would happen if a cruise liner suddenly found itself without power in the middle of the Arctic? After narrowly averting a maritime disaster, Norway is mulling the safety of cruise ships in the Far North. Thanks to well-trained professionals and a good dose of luck, the 1,373 people on board the Viking Sky, the ship that suffered an engine failure in stormy season Saturday, escaped the experience with just a harrowing tale to tell. The incident led to a spectacular air rescue operation: almost 500 passengers were winched off the ship by helicopters fighting strong winds, some in the dark. The vessel, which came close to being swept onto perilous reefs with a potentially catastrophic human and environmental toll, was finally able to make its way to a nearby port, after getting three of its engines running. The engines are believed to have failed due to low oil pressure, maritime authorities said on Wednesday. "Most of the people on board the Viking Sky would have died if the ship had run aground, because of the extreme weather conditions, the ship's movements, a severe list, and a slow evacuation," said two professors from the University of Trondheim's department of marine technology. "What would the consequences have been if this had happened in Finnmark, or near Svalbard?," Ingrid Bouwer Utne and Jan Erik Vinnem wrote in financial daily Dagens Naeringsliv. Finnmark is the northernmost county in mainland Norway, while Svalbard (also known as Spitzberg) is an archipelago located about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole. Both regions are hugely popular in the cruise industry because of their pristine and exotic wilderness, the Northern Lights and polar bears -- but they are poorly equipped for a rescue mission. Exclude the biggest? Six helicopters were able to be quickly dispatched to evacuate the Viking Sky, as it found itself relatively close to an area with offshore oil installations. Svalbard and Finnmark meanwhile each have just two rescue helicopters. In difficult conditions like those that prevailed last weekend and that prevented a sea rescue, how would hundreds or thousands of passengers be evacuated from a ship in distress? In 2017, Svalbard registered 30 cruise ship dockings and 45,000 passengers, not including so-called exploration cruises with smaller vessels. "We were lucky the Viking Sky didn't run aground," Erik Joachimsen, head of the professional association Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard, told AFP. "But you can't always count on luck." The Norwegian Hurtigruten cruise company, which promotes itself as more environmental than the big cruise ships that run on heavy fuel oil, has called for size limits on ships navigating in remote and ecologically sensitive waters. "The giant cruiseliners with thousands of passengers and heavy fuel oil pose a major environmental risk," managing director Daniel Skjeldam said. "Gigantic cruise ships are not advisable everywhere," he said, insisting on the environmental aspect, which would also have the advantage of eliminating some competitors. Regulate or ban? "This summer, similar cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers will sail in Arctic waters and in other vulnerable regions, far from search and rescue facilities," lamented Sian Prior, an advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance campaign. "In addition to the risk to lives, most of these vessels will be powered by oil-based fuels including heavy fuel oil, which pose a grave risk to the Arctic environment, and to the livelihoods of local indigenous people," she said. A heavy fuel oil spill would be "likely to take from months to years to be completely cleaned up." Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg admitted Wednesday there were limits to what authorities could do in the event of a disaster. "It's absolutely correct that in the Far North, we would have been faced with much bigger challenges... We don't have the capacity right now to handle this kind of situation," she said. "The question will always be whether it's best to have large resources up north in case it happens, or whether we should look into other rules," she told parliament. The International Maritime Organisation adopted a Polar Code in 2017 for ships operating in polar regions, requiring shipowners to meet a number of security and environmental standards. But Norway, together with other countries bordering the Arctic, is also considering regulating navigation in the region. The two University of Trondheim professors advocate a swift solution: "If we're not able to take sufficient measures, should we really allow cruiseships in these zones?"

Dramatic Viking Sky rescue a wake-up call for Arctic cruises

A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/norway-cruise-ship-towed-to-port-after-nearly-500-people-rescued-205322">a spectacular rescue operation</a>.

Escorted by tugboats, the Viking Sky arrived in the port of Molde at around 4:15 pm (1515 GMT), television images showed. Nearly a third of its 1,373 passengers and crew had already been airlifted off the ship.

The cruise liner lost power and started drifting on Saturday afternoon two kilometres (1.2 miles) off a stretch of Norwegian coastline notorious for shipwrecks.

The captain sent out a Mayday prompting authorities to launch the airlift in difficult conditions rather than run the risk of leaving people on board.

Some 460 of the 1,373 people on the ship had been taken off by five helicopters before the airlift was halted.

Police said 17 people had been taken to hospital. One person more than 90 years old and two 70-year-olds suffered serious fractures.&nbsp;

With three of four engines restarted Sunday, two tugs towed the vessel away from dangerous reefs before it set sail for Molde, 500 kilometres (300 miles) northwest of Oslo, under its own power.

Dramatic footage of the passengers' ordeal showed furniture and plants sliding around the lurching vessel as parts of the ceiling came down.

Dozens of passengers wearing life jackets were seen seated waiting to get off the ship.

"I have never seen anything so frightening," said Janet Jacob, who was rescued.

"I started to pray. I prayed for the safety of everyone on board," she told the NRK television channel.

"The helicopter trip was terrifying. The winds were like a tornado," she added.&nbsp;

"We were sitting down for breakfast when things started to shake... It was just chaos," said another passenger, American John Curry, as quoted in Norwegian by local media.

Passenger Rodney Horgan said he had been reminded of the Titanic.

"The best word, I guess, is surreal," he said.

"Sea water six-seven feet (about two metres) high just came rushing in, hit the tables, chairs, broken glass and 20-30 people just... went right in front of me.

"I was standing, my wife was sitting in front of me and all of a sudden, she was gone. And I thought this was the end," Horgan said.

But it all ended well for Ryan Flynn. "Here's my 83-year-old dad being airlifted from the #vikingsky," he said.

"We are all off the ship safely!"

Notorious seas 
The ship was sailing south from Tromso to Stavanger when engine trouble struck mid-afternoon on Saturday in an area off More og Romsdal that has claimed many vessels.

"It is dangerous to encounter engine problems in these waters, which hide numerous reefs," said Tor Andre Franck, the head of police operations.

A reception centre was set up in a gym on shore for the evacuees, many of whom were elderly and from the United States and Britain.

The area where the ship got into problems, known as Hustadvika, is notoriously difficult to navigate.

The shallow, 10 nautical mile section of coastline is dotted with small islands and reefs.

"Hustadvika is one of the most notorious maritime areas that we have," Odd Roar Lange, a journalist specialising in tourism, told NRK.

In their time, the Vikings hesitated to venture into the Hustadvika, preferring instead to transport their boats by land from one fjord to another.

Operated by the Norwegian firm Viking Ocean Cruises, the Viking Sky was launched in 2017 with a capacity of 930 passengers plus crew.&nbsp;

In addition to US and British nationals, there were also passengers from 14 other countries on board, Fjeld said.&nbsp;

A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in a spectacular rescue operation.

A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in a spectacular rescue operation. Escorted by tugboats, the Viking Sky arrived in the port of Molde at around 4:15 pm (1515 GMT), television images showed. Nearly a third of its 1,373 passengers and crew had already been airlifted off the ship. The cruise liner lost power and started drifting on Saturday afternoon two kilometres (1.2 miles) off a stretch of Norwegian coastline notorious for shipwrecks. The captain sent out a Mayday prompting authorities to launch the airlift in difficult conditions rather than run the risk of leaving people on board. Some 460 of the 1,373 people on the ship had been taken off by five helicopters before the airlift was halted. Police said 17 people had been taken to hospital. One person more than 90 years old and two 70-year-olds suffered serious fractures. With three of four engines restarted Sunday, two tugs towed the vessel away from dangerous reefs before it set sail for Molde, 500 kilometres (300 miles) northwest of Oslo, under its own power. Dramatic footage of the passengers' ordeal showed furniture and plants sliding around the lurching vessel as parts of the ceiling came down. Dozens of passengers wearing life jackets were seen seated waiting to get off the ship. "I have never seen anything so frightening," said Janet Jacob, who was rescued. "I started to pray. I prayed for the safety of everyone on board," she told the NRK television channel. "The helicopter trip was terrifying. The winds were like a tornado," she added. "We were sitting down for breakfast when things started to shake... It was just chaos," said another passenger, American John Curry, as quoted in Norwegian by local media. Passenger Rodney Horgan said he had been reminded of the Titanic. "The best word, I guess, is surreal," he said. "Sea water six-seven feet (about two metres) high just came rushing in, hit the tables, chairs, broken glass and 20-30 people just... went right in front of me. "I was standing, my wife was sitting in front of me and all of a sudden, she was gone. And I thought this was the end," Horgan said. But it all ended well for Ryan Flynn. "Here's my 83-year-old dad being airlifted from the #vikingsky," he said. "We are all off the ship safely!" Notorious seas The ship was sailing south from Tromso to Stavanger when engine trouble struck mid-afternoon on Saturday in an area off More og Romsdal that has claimed many vessels. "It is dangerous to encounter engine problems in these waters, which hide numerous reefs," said Tor Andre Franck, the head of police operations. A reception centre was set up in a gym on shore for the evacuees, many of whom were elderly and from the United States and Britain. The area where the ship got into problems, known as Hustadvika, is notoriously difficult to navigate. The shallow, 10 nautical mile section of coastline is dotted with small islands and reefs. "Hustadvika is one of the most notorious maritime areas that we have," Odd Roar Lange, a journalist specialising in tourism, told NRK. In their time, the Vikings hesitated to venture into the Hustadvika, preferring instead to transport their boats by land from one fjord to another. Operated by the Norwegian firm Viking Ocean Cruises, the Viking Sky was launched in 2017 with a capacity of 930 passengers plus crew. In addition to US and British nationals, there were also passengers from 14 other countries on board, Fjeld said.

Stricken Norway cruise ship reaches port after third of its passengers are airlifted

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declares-complete-exoneration-after-mueller-report-finds-no-collusion-205408">Trump declares 'complete exoneration' after Mueller report finds no collusion with Russia</a>

US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that he had been completely exonerated after his campaign was cleared of colluding with Russia in the 2016 election, in a major boost for his re-election hopes.

The long-awaited final report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Moscow's election meddling concluded that no member or associate of the campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia in its plot to boost Trump in the vote more than two years ago.

While not completely absolving the president, Attorney General Bill Barr's letter to Congress summarizing the still-secret Mueller report cleared a dark cloud that had hung over the Trump's legitimacy since he took office in January 2017.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/huge-jump-in-rahul-gandhis-income-says-bjp-asks-where-its-coming-from-205426">'Huge jump' in Rahul Gandhi's income, says BJP, asks where it's coming from</a>

The BJP said Sunday that there had been a "huge jump" in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's income and asked where the money was coming from.&nbsp;

The BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference on Sunday that Rahul's income, according to his election affidavits, had risen from over Rs 55 lakh in 2004 to Rs 9 crore in 2014.&nbsp;

"How can an MP, who is not a professional, witness such a jump in his income?" Patra asked.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-hindu-minor-girls-approach-court-seeking-protection-man-suspected-to-assist-in-wedding-held-205430">Pakistan: Minor Hindu girls approach </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-hindu-minor-girls-approach-court-seeking-protection-man-suspected-to-assist-in-wedding-held-205430">court</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-hindu-minor-girls-approach-court-seeking-protection-man-suspected-to-assist-in-wedding-held-205430">, </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-hindu-minor-girls-approach-court-seeking-protection-man-suspected-to-assist-in-wedding-held-205430">man</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-hindu-minor-girls-approach-court-seeking-protection-man-suspected-to-assist-in-wedding-held-205430"> suspected to have assisted in their&nbsp;wedding held</a>

A man suspected to have assisted in solemnising the wedding of two Pakistani Hindu minor girls, who were reportedly abducted and forcefully converted to Islam, was arrested on Sunday, as the teenagers approached a court in Pakistan's Punjab province seeking protection, according to a media report.&nbsp;

The two girls, Raveena (13) and Reena (15), were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in Ghotki district in Sindh on the eve of Holi. Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown solemnising the Nikah (marriage) of the two girls, triggering nationwide outrage.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had also ordered a probe into the issue.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stricken-norway-cruise-ship-reaches-port-after-airlift-drama-205421">Stricken Norway cruise ship reaches port after airlift drama</a>

A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in a spectacular rescue operation.

Escorted by tugboats, the Viking Sky arrived in the port of Molde at around 4:15 pm (1515 GMT), television images showed. Nearly a third of its 1,373 passengers and crew had already been airlifted off the ship.

The cruise liner lost power and started drifting on Saturday afternoon two kilometres (1.2 miles) off a stretch of Norwegian coastline notorious for shipwrecks.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-back-foot-democrats-demand-release-of-full-mueller-report-205409">On the back foot, Democrats demand </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-back-foot-democrats-demand-release-of-full-mueller-report-205409">release</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-back-foot-democrats-demand-release-of-full-mueller-report-205409"> of full Mueller report</a>

Top congressional Democrats said Sunday it was "urgent" that the full report on Russian interference in the 2016 US election be publicly released, stressing it does not exonerate Donald Trump.

The president was quick to claim vindication by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report findings which, according to a summary by Attorney General Bill Barr, found that no Trump campaign official was involved in Russian conspiracies to interfere in the 2016 US election.

Such a conclusion would no doubt blunt a key weapon for Democrats desperate to oust Trump in 2020.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Trump declares 'complete exoneration' after Mueller report finds no collusion with Russia US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that he had been completely exonerated after his campaign was cleared of colluding with Russia in the 2016 election, in a major boost for his re-election hopes.

Trump declares 'complete exoneration' after Mueller report finds no collusion with Russia US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that he had been completely exonerated after his campaign was cleared of colluding with Russia in the 2016 election, in a major boost for his re-election hopes. The long-awaited final report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Moscow's election meddling concluded that no member or associate of the campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia in its plot to boost Trump in the vote more than two years ago. While not completely absolving the president, Attorney General Bill Barr's letter to Congress summarizing the still-secret Mueller report cleared a dark cloud that had hung over the Trump's legitimacy since he took office in January 2017. 'Huge jump' in Rahul Gandhi's income, says BJP, asks where it's coming from The BJP said Sunday that there had been a "huge jump" in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's income and asked where the money was coming from. The BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference on Sunday that Rahul's income, according to his election affidavits, had risen from over Rs 55 lakh in 2004 to Rs 9 crore in 2014. "How can an MP, who is not a professional, witness such a jump in his income?" Patra asked. Pakistan: Minor Hindu girls approach court, man suspected to have assisted in their wedding held A man suspected to have assisted in solemnising the wedding of two Pakistani Hindu minor girls, who were reportedly abducted and forcefully converted to Islam, was arrested on Sunday, as the teenagers approached a court in Pakistan's Punjab province seeking protection, according to a media report. The two girls, Raveena (13) and Reena (15), were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in Ghotki district in Sindh on the eve of Holi. Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown solemnising the Nikah (marriage) of the two girls, triggering nationwide outrage. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had also ordered a probe into the issue. Stricken Norway cruise ship reaches port after airlift drama A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in a spectacular rescue operation. Escorted by tugboats, the Viking Sky arrived in the port of Molde at around 4:15 pm (1515 GMT), television images showed. Nearly a third of its 1,373 passengers and crew had already been airlifted off the ship. The cruise liner lost power and started drifting on Saturday afternoon two kilometres (1.2 miles) off a stretch of Norwegian coastline notorious for shipwrecks. On the back foot, Democrats demand release of full Mueller report Top congressional Democrats said Sunday it was "urgent" that the full report on Russian interference in the 2016 US election be publicly released, stressing it does not exonerate Donald Trump. The president was quick to claim vindication by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report findings which, according to a summary by Attorney General Bill Barr, found that no Trump campaign official was involved in Russian conspiracies to interfere in the 2016 US election. Such a conclusion would no doubt blunt a key weapon for Democrats desperate to oust Trump in 2020.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Rescue worker's helmet camera captures dramatic Viking Sky rescue

A cruise ship that broke down in rough seas off the Norwegian coast with some <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/norway-rescuers-airlift-passengers-off-cruise-ship-in-storm-205160">1,300 passengers and crew on board</a> has restarted three of its four engines and will be towed to port, emergency services said Sunday. &nbsp;

"Three of the four engines are now working which means the boat can now make way on its own," emergency services spokesman Per Fjeld said.

The Viking Sky lost power and started drifting mid-afternoon Saturday about two kilometres off More og Romsdal in dangerous waters and high seas, prompting the captain to send out a distress call and trigger a massive airlift operation.

The airlift was continuing in the early morning, Fjeld said.

Police said 338 of the 1,373 people on board the Viking Sky had so far been taken off by helicopter.

The vessel is making slow headway at two to three knots (4-5 kilometres) an hour off the dangerous, rocky coast and a tug will help it towards the port of Molde, about 500 kilometres northwest of Oslo, officials said.

Police said that 17 people had been taken to the hospital.

The passengers are mostly British or American, they added.

A cruise ship that broke down in rough seas off the Norwegian coast with some 1,300 passengers and crew on board has restarted three of its four engines and will be towed to port, emergency services said Sunday.

A cruise ship that broke down in rough seas off the Norwegian coast with some 1,300 passengers and crew on board has restarted three of its four engines and will be towed to port, emergency services said Sunday. "Three of the four engines are now working which means the boat can now make way on its own," emergency services spokesman Per Fjeld said. The Viking Sky lost power and started drifting mid-afternoon Saturday about two kilometres off More og Romsdal in dangerous waters and high seas, prompting the captain to send out a distress call and trigger a massive airlift operation. The airlift was continuing in the early morning, Fjeld said. Police said 338 of the 1,373 people on board the Viking Sky had so far been taken off by helicopter. The vessel is making slow headway at two to three knots (4-5 kilometres) an hour off the dangerous, rocky coast and a tug will help it towards the port of Molde, about 500 kilometres northwest of Oslo, officials said. Police said that 17 people had been taken to the hospital. The passengers are mostly British or American, they added.

Three of four engines on stricken Norway cruise ship restarted

Rescue services had airlifted 479 people to safety from a luxury cruise liner with engine trouble off the coast of Norway by Sunday morning and began towing the vessel to a nearby port.

The Viking Sky, with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, sent out a mayday signal on Saturday as it drifted towards land in the Norwegian Sea.

The airlift of passengers, many of them elderly, from the Viking Cruises ship by helicopter was halted on Sunday morning as two tugboats started steering the vessel towards the nearest port.

Founder and chairman of Viking Cruises, Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen, said he hoped the vessel would arrive at the port of Molde on Norway's west coast by Sunday afternoon.

"They've had a bit of a shocking experience," Hagen told Norwegian TV2 and other media after meeting passengers who had been hoisted one by one from the ship's deck in stormy weather.

"Most of our passengers are senior citizens ... imagine what it's like to hang there on that wire. It must be a terrible experience but they seem to have handled it very well," Hagen said.

The helicopters are on standby in case the captain decides to restart the airlift, the rescue service said.

The 915 passengers were mainly from the United States and Britain, the rescue services said. There were also Canadians and Australians on board, among others, the cruise company said.

Some 20 injured passengers had been taken to hospital, Viking Cruises said, while others had only minor injuries.

One was taken to St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim and others were taken to local hospitals.

"Many have also been traumatised by the experience and need care when they arrive on shore," the Norwegian Red Cross said.

The ship has been able to restart three of its four engines on Sunday morning but still needed assistance.

The tugboats, one in front and the other behind, were towing the ship at 7 knots (13 kilometres per hour). The vessel is about 80 kms from Molde, Norway's maritime rescue service said.

Broken windows

Stormy weather conditions had improved by early Sunday, with winds down to 14 metres per second from 24 metres per second, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute said. The wind is expected to drop further during Sunday.

Images and video posted by passengers on social media showed furniture sliding around and panels falling from the ceiling as the vessel drifted in waves of up to eight metres (26 feet), and passengers earlier described the ordeal.

"We were having lunch when it began to shake. Window panes were broken and water came in. It was just chaos. The trip on the helicopter, I would rather forget. It was not fun," American passenger John Curry told public broadcaster NRK on Saturday.

The stretch of water known as Hustadvika and surrounding areas are known for fierce weather and shallow waters dotted with reefs.

Built in 2017, the Viking Sky is 227 metres long (745 feet) and 29 metres wide, the Viking Ocean Cruises website said.

"We all want to know how this could have happened," company chairman Hagen said. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time to point fingers at what could and should have been done, but that's for later."

"Something like this shouldn't happen, but it has."

Rescue services had airlifted 479 people to safety from a luxury cruise liner with engine trouble off the coast of Norway by Sunday morning and began towing the vessel to a nearby port.

Rescue services had airlifted 479 people to safety from a luxury cruise liner with engine trouble off the coast of Norway by Sunday morning and began towing the vessel to a nearby port. The Viking Sky, with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, sent out a mayday signal on Saturday as it drifted towards land in the Norwegian Sea. The airlift of passengers, many of them elderly, from the Viking Cruises ship by helicopter was halted on Sunday morning as two tugboats started steering the vessel towards the nearest port. Founder and chairman of Viking Cruises, Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen, said he hoped the vessel would arrive at the port of Molde on Norway's west coast by Sunday afternoon. "They've had a bit of a shocking experience," Hagen told Norwegian TV2 and other media after meeting passengers who had been hoisted one by one from the ship's deck in stormy weather. "Most of our passengers are senior citizens ... imagine what it's like to hang there on that wire. It must be a terrible experience but they seem to have handled it very well," Hagen said. The helicopters are on standby in case the captain decides to restart the airlift, the rescue service said. The 915 passengers were mainly from the United States and Britain, the rescue services said. There were also Canadians and Australians on board, among others, the cruise company said. Some 20 injured passengers had been taken to hospital, Viking Cruises said, while others had only minor injuries. One was taken to St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim and others were taken to local hospitals. "Many have also been traumatised by the experience and need care when they arrive on shore," the Norwegian Red Cross said. The ship has been able to restart three of its four engines on Sunday morning but still needed assistance. The tugboats, one in front and the other behind, were towing the ship at 7 knots (13 kilometres per hour). The vessel is about 80 kms from Molde, Norway's maritime rescue service said. Broken windows Stormy weather conditions had improved by early Sunday, with winds down to 14 metres per second from 24 metres per second, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute said. The wind is expected to drop further during Sunday. Images and video posted by passengers on social media showed furniture sliding around and panels falling from the ceiling as the vessel drifted in waves of up to eight metres (26 feet), and passengers earlier described the ordeal. "We were having lunch when it began to shake. Window panes were broken and water came in. It was just chaos. The trip on the helicopter, I would rather forget. It was not fun," American passenger John Curry told public broadcaster NRK on Saturday. The stretch of water known as Hustadvika and surrounding areas are known for fierce weather and shallow waters dotted with reefs. Built in 2017, the Viking Sky is 227 metres long (745 feet) and 29 metres wide, the Viking Ocean Cruises website said. "We all want to know how this could have happened," company chairman Hagen said. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time to point fingers at what could and should have been done, but that's for later." "Something like this shouldn't happen, but it has."

Norway cruise ship towed to port after nearly 500 people rescued

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