Tourist ship ran aground on Svalbard – investigating possible negligence – NRK Troms and Finnmark

– The governor is investigating the incident as there is a suspicion of a breach of the Ship Safety Act’s provisions on requirements for careful navigation.

This is what police attorney Magnus Rindal Fredriksen says at the head of state in Svalbard to NRK.

On Saturday 20 April, the French-owned tourist ship “Polarfront” ran aground on a headland east of Longyearbyen on Svalbard.

“Polarfront” had 12 passengers and 13 employees on board.

Now the governor is opening criminal proceedings on suspicion of negligence in the navigation of the ship.

Triggered rescue operation

On Saturday morning 20 April, the Governor of Svalbard received a message that the vessel “Polarfront” had run aground in Isfjorden – off Diabasodden.

The main rescue center was thus notified. The coastguard ship “KV Svalbard” was sent to the scene and the Governor moved out with a rescue helicopter.

– Crew and guests on board showed no signs of damage – the hull was also inspected by the Coast Guard, explains police attorney Fredriksen to NRK.

After the Coast Guard reached the wreck, the guests were put on board the Coast Guard ship which transported them to Longyearbyen.

According to Svalbardposten, the vessel was pulled ashore on Saturday evening by “KV Svalbard”, and was towed into Longyearbyen on Sunday afternoon.

Creates a criminal case

Police attorney Fredriksen says the governor will institute criminal proceedings after the grounding.

– The driver of the ship has a duty to ensure that the ship is navigated in such a way that there is no danger to life and health, the environment or material values, he says to NRK.

“Polarfront” was until 2010 weather ship in the North Atlantic. In 2017, the ship was sold to the French tourist company Latitude Blanche, which is based in Marseille.

The ship is used to transport tourists around Svalbard.

NRK has tried to get in touch with the company, but has not received a reply.

Can sail on

According to Svalbardposten, which has been in contact with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, “Polarfront” has been given permission to sail on from Longyearbyen.

– The grounding did not cause such extensive damage that the vessel had to be laid up or have major repairs carried out, writes communications adviser in the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, Eivind Kallevik, in an e-mail to Svalbardposten.

On Wednesday morning, “Polarfront” was at anchor in a fjord just north of Ny-Ålesund, northwest of Svalbard.

Danish sailing schooner with near-miss

On Monday 22 April, the Danish sailing ship “Linden”, with 10 people on board, triggered a rescue operation east of Svalbard.

After smoke developed in the engine room, the ship took in water, if the master’s helicopter had to pump four into the engine room.

– It was a cooling pipe that burst and splashed water on something hot. Then there was a lot of smoke, explains Bjørn Åge Workinn to the newspaper iTromsø, who has spoken to the owner of the schooner.

The ship was escorted by “KV Svalbard” into Longyearbyen, where the ship is docked on Wednesday awaiting dispatch.

– “Linden” will have a class company on board for inspection and investigations on Tuesday. The vessel is therefore still docked awaiting inspection, and subsequent assessment of whether it can sail on or not, Kallevik in the Norwegian Maritime Directorate told Svalbardposten.

To iTromsø, Workin says that the ship made it to port for its own sails after emergency repairs.

– We have repaired the damage, and are now waiting for approval from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to pick up our guests and sail on as normal.