– Vessels are abandoned. The crew has been evacuated by rescue helicopter. One person is injured and taken to hospital. The Norwegian Coastal Administration and the shipping company are working on a further plan for handling the vessel, the Main Rescue Center Southern Norway informs on Twitter.
Guard operator Kjetil Hagen explains to NTB that the ship is now drifting empty and abandoned into the sea, but that there is a danger that it will capsize, which could lead to a fuel leak.
– As of now, the rescue part of the operation has ended. Now it is the shipping company’s responsibility to see if they can salvage ships and cargo. The Norwegian Coastal Administration will also follow up if there is a risk of leaks, says Hagen.
– When the captain chose to leave the ship, it was because they were afraid that the vessel could capsize. So there is an imminent danger that it will happen, says Hagen.
Goes on autopilot
The ship is located about 60 nautical miles west of Ålesund and has a list of approximately 30 degrees.
It now continues to operate on autopilot, and one of the things the Norwegian Coastal Administration and the shipping company must find out is whether there is a danger that it will collide with an oil platform or similar.
– That is what is being investigated now. We do not have information on how much fuel there is on board. It runs on autopilot, but if it should turn in the wind it will get a different course, says Hagen.
There is now only one fishing boat in the area that keeps track of the ship.
Twelve on board
The cargo ship had a total of twelve people on board. Eight of the people were first picked up and transported to Ålesund Airport Vigra. Four people were left on board the vessel to stabilize the ship, but these have now been retrieved.
As the ship was out of radio coverage, the rescue service did not have regular contact with the ship.
The ship has, among other things, a new 24 meter long service ship on its way to AQS AS in Kolvereid in Trøndelag, writes VG. The ship has a value of NOK 66 million.
The load must be intact
Technical manager Kristian Hjertvik in the company has been in contact with the company they bought the boat through, Moen Marin.
– What has happened is that thrusters, which have been transported under deck, have loosened and shifted so that the ship has a list and taken in water, he says to VG.
He further says that the information he is sitting on is that the tire load is undamaged and intact.
To Sunnmørsposten, HRS Sør-Norge said this at 18:30:
– The situation is still unclear. We have rescue resources that are ready to evacuate the four that are left on board, if needed, says rescue leader Oddgeir Andersen at the Main Rescue Center South Norway to Sunnmørsposten.
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