Nordstjernen Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The iconic vessel 'Nordstjernen' recently experienced significant hull damage due to a violent storm while docked in Trondheim, disrupting its much-anticipated 70th anniversary voyage on March 4, 2026. While moored along the coastal express route, the ship faced intense battering against the quay, causing severe port-side damage. The crew diligently attempted to navigate away from the quay beginning at 5:00 a.m.; however, treacherous waves and gusty winds thwarted their efforts. It wasn't until around 7:00 a.m. that 'Nordstjernen' was able to depart, with the assistance of a tugboat. Unfortunately, the extent of the damage necessitated the cancellation of the remaining voyage, which was to commemorate the notable history of the Hurtigruten service. On March 5, the vessel set course for Damen Shipyard in Gdansk, reaching its destination on March 9 for a thorough damage assessment and a repair plan to be established. Initially, the shipping company hoped to make necessary repairs swiftly, with expectations to resume operations within a few weeks. However, assessments indicated a longer timeline was required. The company now predicts that 'Nordstjernen' may not be operational until the latter half of June at the earliest. Several departures from German ports have also been impacted, particularly those set for April 18 in Warnemünde and April 20 and 29 from Bremerhaven. In response, Vestland Classis is formulating a revised seasonal itinerary, which may include rescheduling a similar anniversary cruise for a later date and extending operations into October. Updates regarding the new schedule will be released promptly.

The cruise ship 'Nordstjernen' has been officially released to resume its voyage following thorough inspections that revealed a minor technical issue. On the evening of August 19, divers were deployed to investigate reports that the vessel’s stern had made contact with the pier. Fortunately, after their inspection, they confirmed that there was no significant structural damage, only a few superficial scratches on the hull. The root cause of the incident was quickly identified and addressed. On the morning of August 20, inspectors from the classification society boarded 'Nordstjernen' to assess its technical condition. Following their evaluation, the vessel was cleared for departure shortly after noon. The ship, which had to shift to the port of Rostock due to berth availability amid the arrival of cruise ships 'AIDAmar', 'Viking Sky', and 'Rotterdam', set sail in the early afternoon for Skagen, now expected to arrive on August 21, one day later than planned.

On August 19, 2025, at 6:45 p.m., the passenger ship 'Nordstjernen' experienced a grounding incident on the Warnow embankment while maneuvering from berth 8 in Warnemünde into the fairway. A technical failure in the engine rendered it unresponsive, causing the vessel to collide with the opposite river bank at buoy 24. Fortunately, the 'Nordstjernen' was able to regain engine function, allowing it to make its way to the nearest berth, 7, under its own power. In response to the incident, the Ship Safety Department issued a sailing prohibition. Preliminary investigations indicated that a failure in the pneumatic control system of the controllable-pitch propeller was responsible for the incident. Following the approval of the Maritime Transport Authority, the vessel was towed to berth 46 in Rostock's overseas port by the tug 'Fairplay 55' (IMO: 9021124) at 1:30 a.m. on August 20. The extent of the damage sustained by the 'Nordstjernen' is still under evaluation, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

On the morning of April 6, 2017, authorities apprehended 14 crew members from the former Hurtigruten vessel 'Nordstjernen' at a quay in the center of Bodø. These crew members, who had dedicated many years to the company, were reportedly involved in recent voyages along the Arctic Haute Route, which stretches between Tromsø and Bodø. Their arrest stemmed from suspicions of violating the Immigration Act, prompting an investigation into both their employment and working conditions. After Hurtigruten divested the ship several years ago, it has been periodically chartered from Vestland Marine for various cruises and special sailings. Vestland Marine, established in 1997 and headquartered in Gdynia, began its operational journey in 2014 with a passenger vessel. Of the 25 crew members aboard, 14 were Philippine nationals, while the remaining team comprised Polish, Lithuanian, and two Norwegian personnel. The company's hiring practices involved employing the same crew over two separate trips spanning nine additional days until April 27, 2017. The company clarified that the misunderstandings regarding work permissions for non-EU and Schengen nationals contributed to the situation. The ship operates under the Norwegian International Ship (NIS) register but was sailing under the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR) during its effective 16 days at sea. Following its return to NIS on April 27, 'Nordstjernen' is scheduled for maintenance in Haugesund before embarking on voyages around Svalbard.

The beloved vessel, Nordstjernen, is set for repair at Westcon, located in Ølsfjorden, after it was grounded during its journey. The ship departed from Haugesund at 3:30 p.m. on November 12. Prior to this, divers conducted an investigation into the extent of the damage. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate and Det Norske Veritas joined the inspection process on board. Early morning police activity involved questioning several members of the crew of 21, and breathalyser tests were administered to three crew members, all returning negative results for alcohol consumption. As of now, the cause of the grounding remains unclear; however, initial crew reports suggest that operational errors may have led to the incident. The ship unexpectedly veered to the starboard side, leading to its current predicament. The local authorities are scrutinizing tachograph data, which chronicles the Nordstjernen's journey from Stavanger to the Karmsundet grounding site. Originally en route from Gdynia to Bergen, Nordstjernen was slated for future use as a hotel and restaurant ship following extensive renovations. Unfortunately, the grounding inflicted significant damage, with visible holes in the forepeak area and leaks in multiple ballast water tanks, delaying its arrival in Bergen. The commander of the Coastguard vessel Ålesund noted that the ship was precariously positioned onshore, indicating it must have been moving at speed upon running aground. For further updates, Norwegian reports with accompanying photos and videos can be viewed at the following links: - [NRK - Police Investigating the Grounding](http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/politiet-etterforsker-havariet-1.11351800) - [H-Avis - Nordstjernen Taking on Water](http://www.h-avis.no/nyheter/nordstjernen-tar-inn-vann-1.8155113) - [BT - Nordstjernen Set to Become Hotel Ship](http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Nordstjernen-skal-bli-hotellskip-3004228.html)

The maritime incident involving the vessel "Nordstjernen" took place on November 11, 2013, at 10 p.m. when the ship, with a total of 21 crew members on board, ran aground at the northern spit of Storøy in the Karm Sound, located west of Tonjer l/h. Initial rescue efforts included two tugboats that attempted to refloat the vessel, but these efforts were unsuccessful until early the next morning. Despite attempts to dislodge the ship at 3 a.m. on November 12, it was not until 7 a.m., aided by high tide, that the "Nordstjernen" was successfully refloated. The operation involved three tugboats, one being the "Mega Mammut," which managed to pull the vessel free. Following its successful refloating, the ship was escorted to Haugesund, arriving at approximately 7:30 a.m. Here, local authorities, including the Haugaland and Hardangerfjord police, boarded the ship at Garpaskjærs Quay to conduct interviews with the crew and perform drug tests on those operating the bridge at the time. Fortunately, while the "Nordstjernen" sustained some damage from running aground, it was confirmed that there was no leakage of fuel or other substances into the water. The situation had been monitored by the Norwegian Coastguard, which deployed the patrol boat "Ålesund" at 1 a.m. Additionally, a Seaking helicopter and the NSSR lifeboat "Bergen Kreds" were also dispatched, however, their attempt to pull the vessel off at 11:30 p.m. the previous evening was not successful. For further details, you can view Norwegian news reports with photos and video coverage: [bt.no](http://www.bt.no/nyheter/innenriks/Nordstjernen-pa-grunn-ved-Haugesund-3004026.html) and [h-avis.no](http://www.h-avis.no/nyheter/skip-pa-grunn-i-karmsundet-1.8154483).