MS Otto Sverdrup accidents and incidents

16 June 2020Other Incidents

On June 16, 2020, Hurtigruten became the world's first ocean cruise company to resume passenger shipping operations. On June 16, MS Otto Sverdrup/Finnmarken started the regularly scheduled Norwegian coastal cruise and ferry service leaving from Bergen to Kirkenes.

The fleetmate Roald Amundsen resumed voyages on July 17 (7-day roundtrip from Tromso to Svalbard / Spitsbergen Island's Longyearbyen).

30 October 2019Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Finnmarken/overboard) On October 30, 2019, at ~6 pm, a female passenger fell overboard and died while the ship was manuvering for docking in Alesund Norway. A rescue operation was immediately conducted and participated by 6 vessels, 1 helicopter and rescue divers. The operation was hindered by the stormy weather and failing darkness.

The woman (reportedly in her 40s) was retrieved from the water alive but in an “extremely serious” condition due to the sustained severe injuries (she fell close to the cruise berth). She was ambulanced to Alesund helikopterplass/Heliport from where flown to Trondheim (St Olav's University Hospital) approx 240 km / 150 mi direct/flight distance to the northeast. The woman died in the afternoon on October 31.

The incident occurred at the beginning of 6-day "Norwegian Coastal Cruise" (itinerary October 29 - November 4) from Bergen to Kirkenes, visiting Alesund, Geiranger, Trondheim, Lofoten Islands, Tromso, Honningsvag, and Nordkapp.

May 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Finnmarken) On May 23, 2007, Hurtigruten reported that a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 17 passengers (or 3%). 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. An onboard test showed that the ship's water cleaning system functioned poorly.

During the previous Norwegian Coastal cruise (leaving out of Bergen Norway on April 26, 2007), reportedly 40 passengers and 4 crew suffered from a Norovirus outbreak

13 November 2004Structural and Technical Issues

(CruiseMapper emailed report from Oliver Edvard Natas)

On the 13th of November 2004, MS Finnmarken was hit by a massive wave, which forced the forward emergency exit hatch open, and water started pouring in.

This happened at the notorious Stadt/Stadlandet peninsula (Nordfjord district, Vestland county), an open sea-going area with no shelter. The incident occurred while the ship was southbound to Bergen at 4:30 AM.

The ship turned around and went back to Alesund for repairs.