Russian reefer smashes into Norway

Yes…smashing into Norway literally.  The pictures tell the story best.  Some amazing photos provided by the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

On Monday, the Russian reefer ship Petrozavodsk became stranded near Bjørnøya, Norway.  The ship is now being smashed against a sheer rock cliff on Bear Island, resulting in extensive damage to the ship.  Dangers from potential falling rocks have prevented salvage personnel from boarding the vessel.  All 12 crew members were safely rescued from the ship by a Norwegian rescue helicopter after the ship broadcasted a distress signal early Monday morning.  Initial reports indicate the ship ran aground in dense fog, resulting in a loss of propulsion, however the cause of the incident remains under investigation.  News reports out of Norway say that the Captain has been arrested for being drunk and the first mate may have been asleep while on duty.

Bear Island is in the Western Barents Sea (Source: Wikipedia)

According to the Governor of Svalbard, the vessel’s maneuvers looked so suspicious that it was decided to take blood samples of the officers. The satellite tracks show that the vessel held steady course straight towards the shore, NRK reports.

The Norwegian Coast Guard has several vessels on-scene including the KV “Harstad” and KV “Svalbard“.

The ship contains approx 13,208 gallons of diesel and 690 liters of lube oil.  The site of the wreck is a highly sensitive environmental area due to it being one of the largest sea bird nesting areas.  Although the hull has been penetrated and there is extensive damage to the port side of the vessel, minimal fuel and oil has been observed on-scene. Low visibility and weather continue to hamper salvage efforts.