Squall Disrupts Shore Transfers for HAL’s ms Noordam Passengers: What You Need to Know

Tender boat operations for Holland America Line’s ms Noordam faced interruptions at Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea, due to a sudden squall that unleashed wind gusts of around 40 knots (75 kph/46 mph). This unforeseen weather event struck while passengers were transferring between the ship and the shore, leading to swift changes in conditions.

Passengers reported that the squall developed with little warning, creating unsafe circumstances on deck with unsecured items sliding around and guests being urged to seek shelter indoors. As conditions worsened, the ship’s captain made the decision to suspend tender operations to ensure safety, as the strong winds posed a danger of pushing the vessel towards nearby reefs.

At the time of the suspension, approximately 700 passengers were ashore, and they remained on the island under the crew’s watchful eye. After the squall ceased and conditions improved, tender operations resumed, and all guests returned to the vessel safely, with no reported injuries.

The ms Noordam is currently undertaking a 42-day cruise from Sydney to Auckland. Following the postponed visit to Kiriwina Island, the itinerary continued with a designated sea day, with Honiara in the Solomon Islands being the next scheduled port of call.

For related incidents, visit the ms Noordam’s CruiseMinus page.

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