“We do not expect a material financial effect from the cyberattack," said the company.

Hurtigruten added that it is working with the Norwegian authorities and partners concerned to gain an overview of the situation and to limit the spread and damage caused by the attack.

Hurtigruten's website is already down as of 15 December.

The new cyberattack only deepened the woes of Hurtigruten as the coronavirus has adversely affected the business activities of the company.

The cruise operator halted all operations on the Norwegian coast in the spring of this year and introduced many targeted measures, including major layoffs, to restrict the spread of the pandemic.

In August, after a number of its crew members and some guests tested positive for COVID-19 onboard the ship MS Roald Amundsen, the company temporarily suspended expedition sailings for all its ships.

Hurtigruten suspended all expedition activities before the end of December 2020 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases across Europe and in South and North America this autumn.

The business also cancelled the remainder of the 20/21 season in Antarctica from January and in the first quarter of 2021.

Hurtigruten agreed in September to have only two ships in service on the Norwegian coast, with travel being limited to a minimum.

Maritime Business World