MS Fridtjof Nansen accidents and incidents

12 January 2022Ship Grounding

In the early hours on January 12, 2022, while navigating in Norway's Sognefjord (en route from Lofoten Islands to Flam) the ship ran aground/touched the seabed. According to Hurtigruten, the grounding was due to severe weather with strong winds (up to 130 kph/80 mph).

The accident resulted in underwater hull damage/breach and water ingress (in only one watertight compartment) as well as propulsion system damages. Under its own power, the vessel reached Maloy (on Vagsoya Island). The current voyage (Jan 2-16) was canceled. All passengers were disembarked in Maloy (accommodated in local hotels) and later transported via buses to Alesund. The boat remained docked in Trollebo-Deknepollen (mainland Norway).

The cruise ship was carrying a total of 233 passengers plus 165 crew. No or pollution injuries were reported.

Fridtjof Nansen, together with the sistership Otto Sverdrup, operated 14-day roundtrips to Norway from Hamburg (Germany) scheduled through April 2022.

For the repairs, Hurtigruten contracted Hydrex BV (Breda, North Brabant Netherlands-based maritime technology company) specializing in underwater repairs and general maintenance works.

According to Hydrex's statement, Fridtjof Nansen's grounding produced one large crack (length 2 m, width 1,4 m) plus a smaller crack (length 2m, width 10 cm), both in the hull's plating. To be allowed to leave Maloy (and sail to a drydock facility for permanent repairs) were required temporary repairs. For the job, the Dutch company sent a team of divers and technicians to Maloy, together with all the underwater equipment needed. For fixing the larger crack, on-site was fabricated and installed a cofferdam measuring 2,4x2 m (to cover the damaged hull's area), that was then emptied of water. Over the smaller crack was welded a double plate. After leaving Maloy, the ship arrived at Ulstein Verft AS (shipyard in Ulsteinvik) for drydock repairs.

September 2020Other Incidents

In early September 2020, Tom Cruise (1962-born American actor and producer) rented the Fridtjof Nansen ship in order to prevent any more filming delays to his "Mission Impossible 7" movie production. The movie (being filmed in several European locations) faced production stoppages due to the ongoing Coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

Reportedly, Tom Cruise paid ~GBP 0,5 million (~USD 665 M / EUR 560 M) to rent the Hurtigruten vessel through the end of September 2020. The ship (chartered as a floating hotel for the film's production crew) also sheltered 200+ local staff plus 200+ international personnel.

MS Fridtjof Nansen remained docked in Hellesylt Norway - approx 217 mi (350 km) from the Hurtigruten homeport Bergen.

24 May 2018Other Incidents

On May 24, 2018, Hurtigruten announced that vessel's launch has been pushed back due to fleetmate Roald Amundsen's delayed construction (pushed back to 2019). Fridtjof Nansen's Antarctica cruise schedule (2019-2020) was transferred/added to MS Midnatsol (now Maud).

All affected passengers received full refunds (cruise and flights) plus booking discounts on alternative Hurtigruten cruises.