The UK and the US are to join the Norwegian accident investigation into the Viking Sky (built 2017) casualty which caused the dramatic air evacuation of 500 passengers during a storm near Hustadvika off Norway’s North West coast over the weekend.
Under IMO regulations both the UK and US can join the investigation as “substantially interested states.” Both the UK and US have significant cruise and passenger ship fleets operating under their respective national flags as well as large cruise-going populations.
Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) will head the probe as the 48,000-gt vessel was registered under the Norwegian International Register.
Yesterday Norwegian police boarded the vessel at Molde although there has not yet been an announcement on whether a criminal investigation into the casualty will take place.
The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is a highly regarded marine accident investigation body and has a specialist expertise in translating voyage data recorder information.
There were 1,373 passengers and crew onboard the Viking Sky when it suffered engine failure during a violent storm on Saturday close to Norway’s coastline.
The incident forced the ship’s master to put down anchor and call for the emergency immediate evacuation of the ship by air.
