Cruise Ship Maud, Damaged by Storm, to Resume Sailing in April

The cruise ship Maud, operated by Hurtigruten’s HX Expeditions, will be out of service until mid-April for repairs after being damaged in a storm. The ship, which was on a Northern Lights cruise in mid-December, encountered a strong storm while crossing the North Sea from Norway to the UK. The bridge windows were broken, and the ship’s electronics were damaged, leaving it unable to navigate under normal controls.

Despite the initial plan to tow the ship to a port of refuge, it was later determined that the Maud could proceed to port under her own power. The ship was escorted to Bremerhaven by an offshore vessel and two port tugs, taking 48 hours to reach port with only a few injuries reported among passengers. The company confirmed that the vessel’s structure and machinery were not damaged, but repairs to the bridge equipment are needed due to saltwater damage.

The cruise ship is expected to return to service in mid-April 2024 with two cruises from the UK, followed by repositioning to the Arctic for cruises to Greenland and Iceland. Investigations into the incident are also planned, as the storm caused extensive damage on shore in several European countries.

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