Cruise ship off Norway in trouble, begins evacuating 1,300 passengers

A cruise ship off Norway’s western coast is evacuating 1,300 passengers and crew Saturday after engine problems forced the ship to send a mayday call.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said the Viking Sky’s evacuation was likely to be a slow and dangerous process, as passengers needed to be hoisted from the cruise ship to the five available helicopters one by one, according to The Associated Press. As of Sunday morning, 379 of the 1,373 passengers and crew had been airlifted to shore.

Authorities told NRK that a strong storm with high waves was preventing rescue workers from using life boats or other vessels in taking passengers ashore.

“It’s a demanding exercise, because they (passengers) have to hang in the air under a helicopter and there’s a very, very strong wind,” witness Odd Roar Lange told NRK at the site.

Norwegian media reported gusts up to 43 mph and waves over 26 feet. The area is known for its rough, frigid waters.

Passengers have taken to social media to share what they’re witnessing onboard as they wait to be rescued.

Alexus Sheppard posted a video on Twitter of severe tilting due to the rough waters. “We’re waiting for evacuation by helicopter,” she wrote with the hashtags #VikingSky and #Mayday.

David Hernandez posted a video showing the ship has taken in some water with it running under passengers’ feet.