Strong Winds Break Cruise Ship From Mooring Ropes

That must have been a mighty wind.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima cruise ship broke away from its mooring ropes due to strong winds in Zeebrugge, Belgium over the weekend.

Although a gangway fell into the water, nobody was injured, a Norwegian spokesperson confirmed.

“Thankfully, there are no reported injuries, and all guests and crew remain safe,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement to USA Today. “A damage assessment is in progress and as of now, there appears to be no impact to the vessel.”

The ship was sailing a 10-day itinerary from Reykjavik, Iceland to Southampton, England. While it is unusual for a cruise ship to break away from its moorings, it can happen in severe weather.

Cruise ships obviously do not control the weather but are advised of the latest conditions by the port where they docking. The wind was about 20 to 30 mph on Saturday, when the ship broke free from its moorings.