Evaluering
Assessment of the Viking Sky Incident
On March 23, 2019, the Viking Sky cruise ship suffered an engine shutdown and had to make an emergency stop at Hustadvika between Kristiansund and Molde. The ship nearly ran aground, which could have had catastrophic consequences. A comprehensive rescue operation was carried out, and passengers were evacuated by helicopter, which continued until the morning of the following day. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MoJ) was the lead ministry during the incident, and has charged the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) with evaluating the management of the incident. The assessment covers all aspects of the rescue operation, including maritime intervention and rescue by helicopter, the evacuation of passengers, and their reception and handling on land. Why the ships (Viking Sky and the freighter Hagland Captain) got into distress, and the crews' handling of the situation, is not included in the assessment. The same applies to issues related to the shipping company's safeguarding of passengers and crew members. The work was carried out in dialogue with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, of Southern Norway South Norway (JRCC-SN), and with the County Governor for Møre og Romsdal (FMMR), the Møre og Romsdal Police District / local rescue coordination center (RSC), and the municipalities involved. The DSB also gathered information and insights from others who took part in the rescue work, including the Møre og Romsdal Hospital Trust , the Norwegian Civil Defence, and volunteer organizations. The assessment work is based on different methods and sources, including a review of the relevant documentation, meetings/interviews with relevant participants, and a questionnaire. The various actors' own assessments, and in some cases presentations of their experiences, are an important part of the documentation. The assessment report places the greatest emphasis on the theme and issues related to several actors, and in particular the relationship between these and cross- sector issues. A successful rescue operation and handling of those evacuated There is broad consensus that the rescue operation related to the Viking Sky incident was a success, as to both the evacuation of passengers from the cruise ship, and their reception and handling on land. The evacuation took place under extremely demanding conditions, but there were no accidents or damages. The assessment confirms the impression of a successful rescue operation, and impressive contributions and effective cooperation between the different actors. This can be attributed to Norway's integrated rescue service where coordination, management and cooperation between actors and resources is the same, no matter the type of incident (land, sea or air). This explains how, when the incident occurred, the rescue operation was set up quickly and comprehensively. One hallmark of the way the incident was handled, was that the actors came up with good solutions to issues as they arose; for example, the establishment and management of the reception center at the Brynhallen sports complex. Not all solutions were prepared for or planned in advance. One lesson to be learned, therefore, is the need for a greater degree of systemization or planning for such solutions