A Norwegian cruise ship with 400 passengers and crew on board is being towed back to Germany after it was battered by a 'rogue wave' that knocked out its power during a violent storm in the North Sea.
The UK-bound MS Maud, owned by cruise line HX, part of Norway's Hurtigruten Group, was sailing about 160 miles off the west coast of Denmark and about 215 miles off the east coast of Britain when the wave smashed the windows of the bridge shattered.
The ship had embarked on a 14-day Northern Lights expedition from Tilbury, in the UK, on December 9 and was due to return to Essex port on December 23, meaning there are likely dozens of Britons on board.
Stomach-churning footage shared by passengers shows how choppy the conditions were, with the ship rocking aggressively as it was buffeted by huge waves, with belongings strewn across the floor.
The video, which was shared on Facebook, received dozens of comments from fellow passengers, including one who wrote: 'We watch movies in our room. Every time we move, we almost fly.”
MS Maud (pictured) had embarked on a 14-day Northern Lights expedition from Tilbury, UK, on December 9 and was due to return to Essex port on December 23.
Footage shared from MS Maud shows the ship moving aggressively up and down as objects are scattered across the floor
The ship's 266 passengers and 131 crew were safe, a spokesman for the Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Center (DJRC) confirmed, adding that a vessel from the civil rescue company Esvagt had managed to attach a tow line to the cruise ship.
“An Esvagt ship is slowly towing it towards Bremerhafen in Germany at a speed of about 8-9 knots,” the spokesperson said.
The power outage caused the crew to lose the ability to navigate. However, the ship's main engine was still functioning, allowing the ship to be controlled manually from the engine room.
MS Maud left Floroe in Norway on Thursday and was expected to arrive in Tilbury in Great Britain on Friday.
Hurtigruten confirmed in a statement on Friday that the ship was on its way to Bremerhafen to disembark.
An HX spokesperson said: 'Yesterday afternoon, December 21, MS Maud reported a temporary loss of power after an encounter with a rogue wave. The ship was sailing from Florø, Norway towards Tilbury, UK, when the incident occurred.
“At this time, the ship has confirmed that no serious injuries to guests or crew have been sustained as a result of the incident. The condition of the ship remains stable and the crew can sail under their own power.
'After continuous safety checks and technical assessments, we have decided to adjust the planned sailing route in view of the weather conditions. Thorough operational protocols are in place across the fleet and we always prioritize the safety of those on board.
'The ship is currently sailing to Bremerhaven, Germany to disembark. Our team is working to arrange onward travel home for the guests on board.”
The area was hit by a hurricane-force storm from the northwest late on Thursday and is forecast to continue on Friday, the Danish Meteorological Institute said.
Another video shows the rough conditions in the North Sea when the crew had to be towed to Germany
The map shows the route of MS Maud from Floroe to Tilbury before it lost navigational ability in the North Sea
The MS Maud – formerly known as the MS Midnatsol – takes its name from a polar ship from 100 years ago, according to the website.
The original ship was named after the first queen of what is now known as modern-day Norway.
The ship is equipped with technology that the website says is 'exceptionally suitable' for cruises between Norway and the British Isles.
Trips on the MS Maud cost anywhere from $3,000 to almost $10,000.
It comes six weeks after a Saga cruise ship was battered by a storm (pictured) and stalled in the Bay of Biscay, forcing passengers to 'hang on for dear life'
It comes six weeks after a Saga cruise ship was battered by a storm and stalled in the Bay of Biscay, forcing passengers to 'hang on for dear life'.
The Spirit of Discovery cut short its two-week voyage and returned to Portsmouth early to avoid the approaching storm when heavy winds and choppy waters overtook it.
About 100 of the 1,000 people on board were injured, the majority of whom were injured when the ship's safety system activated, causing it to veer dramatically and come to a stop, according to Saga at the time.