MS Midnatsol accidents and incidents

21 December 2023Propulsion / Power Loss

On December 21, 2023, while navigating in the North Sea (approx 200 mi/320 km from the Danish coast), the ship lost power due to propulsion and navigation issues inflicted by Storm Pia/Zoltan.

MS Maud suffered damages (power loss after being hit by a rogue wave) while en route from Norway (Floro) back to the UK (homeport Tilbury-London). Besides power outages, also were reported broken windows and water ingress into the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge.

The ship was carrying a total of total of 397 people (266 passengers plus 131 crew). No serious injuries to passengers or crew were reported. According to social media posts, all passengers were mustered and wearing survival suits and life jackets for ~4 hours.

Although one engine was reportedly restarted, the ship completely lost its navigational systems and the radar.

After losing navigation ability, the vessel (being manually navigated, replacing its electronic systems) requested assistance and was towed to Bremerhaven (Germany) for repairs.

Denmark's maritime authorities conducted the rescue operation, dispatching (from Esvagt) two offshore support vessels.

Due to the emergency drydocking, a total of 8 voyages were canceled.

• (Dec 23) 14-day "Christmas Expedition Cruise" (roundtrip from Dover)
• (January 6 & 20, February 3 & 17, March 2, 16, & 30) 14-day "Northern Lights Expedition Cruise" (roundtrips from Amsterdam)

According to CruiseMapper's satellite AIS data, the ship left Floro on Dec 20th and arrived in Bremerhaven on Dec 23rd (at 14:45 UTC). The ship was scheduled to return to service on April 13th (12-day "British Isles- Remote Islands Natural Wonders and a Diverse Coastline Cruise", roundtrip from Dover).

Storm Pia (aka Zoltan/a powerful windstorm, active on Dec 20-22) impacted the UK, Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium and Germany, causing major travel disruptions (canceled flights, trains, ferries, closed roads and bridges, power downed power lines). The hurricane caused widespread flooding along the Dutch coast and the Elbe River (in Hamburg). Unprecedentedly, The Netherlands' all major flood control barriers were closed.

May 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On May 22, 2007, Hurtigruten reported that a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected over 100 passengers (out of ~600, or ~17%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, predominantly diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins.

On May 30, Norwegian health officials announced that the illness outbreak was caused by drinking water. The onboard test showed that the ship's water cleaning system functioned poorly.

14 December 2003Propulsion / Power Loss

On December 14, 2003, the ship was on a southbound course and navigating between Alesund and Maloy, when the main power supply failed and all engine power was lost. The vessel was approaching a reef. The released anchors tried to stop the drift but failed.

All passengers (102 at the time) were ordered to the lifeboats. Luckily, one of the anchors caught and the main engines were restarted. The cause for the accident was an overgrown inlet to engines' coolant systems.