By Roy Mabasa
The passengers of the cruise ship Viking Sky that got stranded in rough seas off Norway praised the efficiency and helpfulness of the Filipino crew in the evacuation, the Philippine Embassy in Norway said on Sunday.
According to a Philippine Embassy dispatch, the 163 Filipino crew members of the luxury ship are all safe and are helping evacuate the passengers.
The cruise ship Viking Sky is pictured on March 23, 2019 near the west coast of Norway at Hustadvika near Romsdal. (Photo by Frank Einar VATNE / NTB Scanpix / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
On Saturday, the cruise ship went a distress call off the western coast of Norway as bad weather hit and engine problems caused it to start drifting toward the rocky shore.
There are 1,300 passengers onboard the ship.
The Philippine government is monitoring the ongoing rescue operations for the passengers of Viking Sky.
“Embassy Charge 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,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a media readout.
Latest report has indicated that the ship has restarted and is now moving at a slow pace. Norwegian authorities said tug boats are currently trying to move the Viking Sky to shore as three of the ship’s four engines are working..
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