A cruise ship was expected to return to its home port of Seattle today after a minor accident near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Saturday afternoon. The Canadian Coast Guard reported that the Norwegian Sky took a “roll”- probably from hitting a wave or something similar. CHEK-TV of Victoria reported that two fishing boats might have cut in front of the huge liner, forcing it to turn sharply, but neither the Canadian for U.S. coast guard can confirm that report.

The sudden movement of the Norwegian Sky knocked a few passengers off their feet, and the U.S. Coast Guard said that a three of four passengers suffered minor injuries, KOMO-TV of Seattle reported Saturday night. The ship continued on to Victoria as scheduled without further incident. There were a few ambulances waiting for the ship as it docked, but there were no reports that anyone was taken to a hospital KOMO said.

The sip was due back in Seattle at its normal time of 7 a.m. today. U.S. and Canadian coast guard officials will began an investigation into what happened. The 853- foot Norwegian Sky made its maiden voyage in August 1999. The 77,104-ton liner is capable of speeds up to 23 knots. It’s capable of holding as many as 2,400 passengers and has a crew of 750. The Norwegian Cruse Line Ship, returning from a sever-day cruise of Glacier Bay, Alaska, was reported about 150 yards off the southern tip of Vancouver Island en route to a scheduled stop at Victoria when the “roll” occurred, CHEK-TV said.

Peninsula Daily News section A May 20, 2001