DAVAO CITY (March 25) — The 163 Filipino seafarers aboard cruise ship ‘Viking Sky’ are safe, this was the assurance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Sunday.
The Viking Sky was carrying 1,373 passengers and crew members. The report said the crew issued a mayday call. Fearing the ship would run aground, they managed to anchor in Hustadvika Bay to facilitate the evacuation and ordered them to wear life vest.
They had a horrible ordeal when the ship’s engine encountered problem while they were sailing the Norwegian coast, known for rough, frigid waters, Saturday.
The report said 17 passengers were hospitalized due to injuries while 463 were airlifted due to their fragile condition.
In a press statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, which is in touch with Viking Cruises and the Norwegian Rescue Center, reported that the ship’s 163 Filipino crew members are all safe and are helping evacuate passengers. There are no Filipino passengers onboard the cruise liner.
The ship was visiting the Norwegian towns and cities of Narvik, Alta, Tromso, Bodo and Stavanger before its scheduled arrival Tuesday in the British port of Tilbury on the River Thames. The passengers mostly were a mix of American, British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian citizens.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is closely monitoring the ongoing rescue operations for passengers of the cruise ship Viking Sky that got stranded in rough seas off Norway on Saturday.
Embassy Chargé ‘d Affaires Mariel Algabre said she was told that passengers have praised the efficiency and helpfulness of the ship’s Filipino crew in the evacuation. Authorities said tug boats are currently trying to move the Viking Sky to shore as three of the ship’s four engines are working. Reports monitored by the Department indicate that the ship has restarted and is moving at a slow pace.-NewsLine.ph
