Just before 7.30pm on Tuesday evening, the captain of the Norwegian trawler “Kågtind II” reported that the ship was taking on water east of Bjørnøya and needed help. The captain reported that the situation was unclear, but under control. The ship then had 21 people on board. – The latest thing that has happened is that another fishing vessel has arrived and is on standby by the casualty, says operative rescue manager Rune Danielsen to news just before 11 p.m. The trawler “Kågtind II” belongs to the shipping company Nergård in Tromsø. – The situation is starting to come under control. The crew is in the process of gaining more control over the water intrusion, says Danielsen. The situation has improved In a press release, HRS states at 23.48 that the first of the assisting vessels arrived at the casualty at 22.40 and is awaiting the situation. The first helicopter, from Longyearbyen, arrived at about 23:00, and put two bilge pumps on board to improve the bilge capacity. The helicopter returns to Svalbard. HRS further states that the captain of the casualty confirms that the situation has improved and that the water level is falling. And with two extra pumps, you also have a reserve capacity. This picture of the ship was taken in April after the vessel had been in a collision at the quay in Tromsø. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news HRS further writes that the second helicopter from Tromsø will remain on standby on Bjørnøya until further notice, and the assisting vessels that have not arrived will be dismissed. The coastguard ship “Barentshav” continues towards the wreck to set a tow. Arrival is expected to be at 07:00 on Wednesday morning. A rescue helicopter in the process of hoisting down pumps more. Photo taken from MS “Veststeinen” by coxswain Jarl-Magne Silden. Photo: coxswain Jarl-Magne Silden MS “Veststeinen” is on standby Coxswain on board MS “Veststeinen” Jarl-Magne Silden, who is next to the casualty, says they arrived at “Kågtind II” already at 11pm on Tuesday evening. – I think they have control now. It’s dark, but we can see them here from us, says Silden, who news spoke to at midnight. He says the MS “Veststeinen” is ready to assist in case the casualty needs assistance during the night. Coxswain Jarl-Magne Silden says MS “Veststeinen” will be on standby as long as assistance is needed. Photo: Silje Guddal / news – I have been in contact with the skipper on board recently. Now they have had a pump hoisted down from a rescue helicopter. In addition to MS “Veststeinen”, several vessels are on their way to the wreck. – That’s how it is up here in the sea. Here we have to look after each other and be prepared when things happen, says Silden. He feels that the weather is about to calm down: – There is a slight gale and some snow showers, otherwise it is fine. MS “Veststeinen” is ready through the night to assist “Kågtind II”. Photo: STP Transport – Taking this seriously Ship commander in Nergård, Kenneth Holmøy tells news that the situation appears to be under control. – The boat has taken in water in the engine room, but the leak and the water level have been reduced. I am in regular contact with the captain. He states that the crew takes this seriously and behaves very professionally. We have regular exercises for such situations, so they are well drilled, says the commander to news. Rescue helicopter arrived At 23.30, the main rescue center confirmed that one of the helicopters had lowered two bilge pumps on board “Kågtind II”. The Norwegian trawler “Kågtind II” takes in water off Bjørnøya in the border between the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. A stiff gale is blowing in the area. The wave height is 3–4 meters and visibility should be good. – At 11 p.m., the first rescue helicopter arrives, which will lower the pump to the casualty, says Rune Danielsen. ABOUT “Kågtind II”: “Kågtind II” is a Norwegian freezer trawler owned by the Nerdgård group, registered in Harstad. Length: 64.6 meters Weight: 1648 gross tonnes. Crew: 21 Built: in 2000 in Spain About the shipping company: Nergård is an integrated fisheries group within catching, processing and sales, and in this area they are the second largest in the whole of Northern Norway after Lerøy sea fishing. “Kågtind II” is the oldest of a total of four large freezer trawlers that the Nergård group owns. “Kågtind II” was exposed to an accident in April, when the vessel burst into a quay in Tromsø. It is not known whether the accident in April is related to the accident which is now unfolding in the eastern Barents Sea.
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The trawler “Kågtind II” with 21 on board takes in water east of Bjørnøya – news Troms and Finnmark
