22. May 2023 22:04 – Updated May 22, 2023 10:55 p.m
The passenger boat MS Isbjørn 2 ran aground on Monday evening in Borebukta in Isfjorden on Svalbard, ten months after the same boat grounded in the same place.
– There was a vessel that went out with an emergency message at 20.30 that they had a collision and needed assistance. In collaboration with the Governor, we have used two rescue helicopters and evacuated everyone from the boat. Everyone is taken care of by the Governor’s people, duty rescue manager Tore Hongset at the Northern Norway Central Rescue Service tells NTB.
The mayor stated a little earlier that they were notified by HRS at 20.34 about the grounding. The message was that MS Isbjørn 2 with 15 people on board had run aground in Borebukta in Isfjorden. A rescue operation was immediately launched, and two helicopters flew out to retrieve everyone on board.
– MS Isbjørn 2 had twelve French passengers and a crew of three. None of the 15 are physically injured, and they have been brought to Longyearbyen, where Longyearbyen Local Council has established a reception centre, informs The administrator at 10.30 p.m.
Impact side and takes in water
Tore Hongset tells NTB that the Accident Investigation Board will now investigate the ship. According to the Governor, the boat has a strong heel and takes in water.
– An oil leak has been observed in the sea, but the extent is unknown. Oil spill preparedness has been set, and the Governor’s service vessel Polarsyssel and KV Svalbard are on their way to the scene of the accident, the Governor states.
Hongset informs Svalbardposten that the former fast-route ship MS Nordstjernen volunteered when the emergency message came. It lies and observes in the area. The Governor’s boat Fjordsyssel is also at the site where the grounding occurred, the newspaper writes.
– When a boat is in distress, we are called by HRS and asked to assist. Those who can sign up for service, and that’s what we did, says Nordstjernen captain Tormod Karlsen to VG.
Also due last year
On 15 July last year, the same ship ran aground in Borebukta. None of the 14 people on board were injured.
At that time, the ship was pulled from the ground and examined with an underwater camera, but no leakage from the ship or water in the boat was discovered. Eleven people were then evacuated to Longyearbyen, while the crew of three remained on board.
2023-05-22 20:04:42
#people #rescued #grounded #ship #Svalbard
