News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Cookeville couple has returned home safe and unharmed after strong storms battered their Viking Sky Cruise ship Saturday.
Richard Grogan said he and his wife Terri relied on their faith to pull them through the tough situation.
“Being in such a vulnerable place, we felt very lost so I know at that moment what that’s like to be lost… and rescued, I know what it’s like to be rescued,” Grogan said. “So it speaks to me in another dimension that we are very blessed people in our country, in our city, and in our town. We have such a caring community.”
At least 1,300 people were rescued after their Viking Sky Cruise ship lost power during severe storms.
Grogan said the trip initially began without a hitch as the two prepared to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“Having been in 80 countries and every continent, our bucket list is quite full,” Grogan said. “One of the last things that we wanted to do was to see the Northen Lights, we wanted to see the Aurora, and that’s what this trip was about.”
Grogan said the trip was smooth sailing at first once the ship first left the port in Norway.
“It was a delightful experience early on. The boat held about 900 people so it was not a large boat,” Grogan said. “Well outfitted and they did a great job. We visited several sites, several excursions late at night capturing the Aurora Borealis and looking at what it had to offer. Great meals, great people, great services the boat offered. So nothing negative until last Saturday.”
Grogan said the first sign of trouble came when they expected the boat to turn away from a reef but continued moving forward. Passengers and crew soon realized that the boat’s four engines and its stabilizer had stopped working all while a strong storm system pushed through their area.
“[The boat] was broadside to the waves, and so with the waves catching at the breach, it really caused the boat to lean to where we were afraid it would capsize,” Grogan said. “When that big wave hit the boat, a door broke from outside and some windows broke. Immediately then that wave swept into the boat. All these very elderly people at tables and chairs just got swept into this wall.”
Grogan, his wife, and others were rescued via helicopter as crews aboard the ship were able to deploy the anchor and prevent the boat from capsizing. Others were able to stay aboard the ship as it made its way back to shore under its own power with some assistance.
Grogan said he’s thankful for the emergency personnel and their assistance in the rescue. However, Grogan questions why the boat left the port in the first place while officials called for severe weather at sea.
“We don’t know why the boat staff made the decision to sail into those waters,” Grogan said. “There’s a ferry boat that runs that route every day, and on this day, [the operator] canceled the route because he said it was too dangerous to be there. I have no idea what the decision-making criteria was that caused them to venture into those waters.”
Grogan said Viking Sky Cruises have refunded their trip and everyone else’s that were on board Saturday. The company has also offered passengers free cruises for their next trip.
Norweigan authorities announced Monday they will investigate why the cruise ship set sail despite severe storm warnings.
