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AN ENORMOUS wave engulfed a cruise ship full of Brits and sent passengers flying during a ferocious storm off the UK coast.
The MS Maud was sailing some 162 miles off Denmark’s west coast and about 217 miles off Britain’s east coast in the North Sea when the monster wave struck.
An enormous wave engulfed a cruise ship full of Brits during a ferocious storm off the UK coast
The giant wave crashed into the vessel and smashed glass windows
Hurtigruten Insiders /FacebookThe Norwegian cruise ship had its power knocked out and windows shattered as 400 passengers and crew were violently thrown around.
The vessel, which belongs to cruise company HX, a unit of Norway’s Hurtigruten Group, became impossible to navigate and had to be towed to Germany.
Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported.
A passenger managed to film the dramatic moment in which the terrifying freak wave can be seen smashing into the luxury cruise ship.
The unnamed holidaymaker told the Daily Mail: “I had the bridge camera showing on the TV to try to stop dizziness and just randomly decided to film it!
“As soon as the wave struck, the TV screen went blank and the ship’s horn distress signal sounded so I knew something was wrong.”
They added how they expected it to be a “rough ride” after previously encountering several other big waves.
According to the passenger, people, fixed tables and chairs were sent sliding across the floor.
Pictures have revealed the severity of the destruction on the ship following the wave attack.
The cruise’s shop had its windows smashed in and products were left strewn across the floor.
According to those on board the ship, a big clean-up operation was underway as of Friday.
Other stomach-churning footage shared by passengers revealed the extent of the choppy conditions, with the ship seen aggressively rocking up and down as it became ravaged by huge waves.
A video shared on Facebook received dozens of comments from fellow passengers, with one writing: “We’re watching films in our room. Every time we move we nearly go flying.”
MS Maud had left Floroe in Norway on Thursday ahead of its return to the UK before the wave struck.
Despite the power outage, the vessel’s main engine was still functioning, enabling the ship to be steered manually from the engine room.
On board the ship were 266 passengers and 131 crew members.
A spokesperson for the Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (DJRC) confirmed that all were safe.
They added that a vessel from civil rescue firm Esvagt had managed to connect a tow line to the cruise ship.
“An Esvagt ship is towing it slowly towards Bremerhafen in Germany at around 8-9 knots,” the spokesperson said.
The ship is outfitted with technology that its website claims makes it “exceptionally well-suited” for cruises between Norway and the British Isles.
The MS Maud had started a 14-day Northern Lights expedition after sailing from Tilbury on December 9.
It was due to return to the Essex port on Saturday, December 23, although it remains to be seen whether any changes to the schedule have since been made.
The area was hit by a storm late on Thursday with hurricane-force gusts blowing from the northwest.
They are, however, forecast to continue on Friday, the Danish Meteorological Institute said.
Last month, cruise ship passengers needed resuscitating and suffered broken bones when 30ft waves smashed into their ship.
Around 100 of the 1,000 people on board Spirit of Discovery were injured when bad weather triggered the boat’s safety system.
And a horrifying video shows passengers screaming for help as a cruise ship sinks in rough seas.
One passenger aged 75 died during November’s tragedy near the Bahamas capital of Nassau.
Hurtigruten Insiders /Facebook
Hurtigruten Insiders /Facebook
Hurtigruten Insiders /Facebook
Facebook/Jane Bennett
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