Tender boat operations of HAL-Holland America Line’s ship ms Noordam were temporarily disrupted at Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea, after a rapidly developing squall produced wind gusts of ~40 knots (75 kph/46 mph), rendering conditions unsafe for continued transfers between ship and shore.
According to accounts shared by passengers, the localized weather system arrived with little warning and coincided with ongoing tender operations. The sudden increase in wind speed affected conditions on deck, with unsecured items shifting across open areas and prompting guests to move indoors as the situation deteriorated.
As wind and sea conditions worsened, the vessel’s master suspended tender movements after it became unsafe for boats to come alongside. By that point, an estimated 700 passengers had already gone ashore and remained temporarily on the island while the crew monitored conditions. Guests were informed that the strong winds were setting the ship toward nearby reefs, requiring the suspension of tendering so the vessel could be maneuvered into a safer position.
Once the squall passed and wind conditions moderated, tender operations were resumed and all passengers were returned safely to the ship. No injuries were reported.
MS Noordam is currently on a 42-day cruise from Sydney to Auckland. Following the canceled call at Kiriwina Island, the itinerary continued with a scheduled sea day, with the next planned port being Honiara (Guadalcanal) in the Solomon Islands.
For more ms Noordam incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.