Havila Voyages: Incident on “MS Havila Polaris”
All passengers and part of the crew have been safely disembarked ashore at Stranda.
Havila Polaris was off Stranda on its way into the Geirangerfjord on a northbound route, and at 13:18 today, overheating was reported in the propulsion system on the port side. There has been no outbreak of fire on board, but significant overheating triggered cooling and foam spraying in the affected areas.
Havila Polaris had 397 passengers on board in addition to a crew of 68. The ship docked at Stranda under its own power, where all passengers and 30 crew members were evacuated for safety reasons. The evacuated crew is assisting passengers on land. All evacuees are gathered at the cultural center in Stranda, which will serve as a reception center. No passenger injuries have been reported, but two crew members are being checked by medical personnel on land for suspected smoke inhalation.
**Update at 14:50:**
Havila Polaris has received temporary sailing permission from DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority to sail back to Ålesund, where Havila Polaris will dock at Storneskaia. Passengers and crew are on their way back on board, and the expected departure from Stranda is in about half an hour.
More information will be released as soon as it becomes available, and will be updated.
(Havila Voyages: Incident on “MS Havila Polaris” – Havila Voyages)
