15 Canadians on cruise ship that was stranded off Norway; one injured

STAVANGER, Norway — Norwegian officials are investigating why a cruise ship carrying more than 1,300 people, including 15 Canadians, set sail despite storm warnings and forced a major evacuation after a mayday call had been issued.

Global Affairs Canada says the Canadians were on board the Viking Sky cruise ship when it ran into engine trouble off Norway’s rough, frigid western coast.

In an email statement, department spokesman Stefano Maron says one of the 15 was injured, and consular officials are in contact with those involved.

Maron says no further information could be disclosed, citing the Privacy Act.

The cruise ship was carrying 1,373 passengers and crew when it issued a mayday call Saturday afternoon.

Rescuers worked all night and into Sunday to airlift half of its passengers — 479 people — to shore by helicopter before the ship was able to slowly make its way to shore on Sunday.

The Viking Ocean Cruises company says all the passengers and crew are safe, the ship has docked in the western Norwegian port of Molde and passengers planned to fly home as soon as possible.

— With files from The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version spelled Maron incorrectly in para 3