Hurtigruten ships have ground support

In a press release on Friday at 10am, Hurtigruten writes that they have the situation under control.

– No one was injured in the incident, and there is no danger to the crew on board. The ship is stable, and towing assistance has been called. The engine and propulsion system are working, and the captain is in control of the situation.

MS Richard With is currently not in normal operation, and there are no passengers on board, the company states.

In a new update just after 11.30, Hurtigruten writes that they still do not know the reason why the ship grounded.

– What we know now is that there is minor damage to the bulb and forward ballast tank, which were filled with seawater at the time. When we have a full overview, we will consider how to get the ship to the shipyard for repairs, the update says.

HRS intervened

The main rescue center received information about the incident earlier on Friday.

– We are aware that a boat has run aground in Steinsundet, stated rescue manager in HRS, Per Hogneland, on Friday morning.

It is Hurtigruten Richard With that has ground support in Solund municipality.

– We have no information that it is taking in water, nor do we have any indication that anyone has been injured, said Hogneland.

70 people

Operations manager in the West police district, Tom Johanessen, says there are no injuries as a result of the incident.

– It is possible that there is some damage to the boat. No personal injuries. All emergency resources have been sent to the scene, including the police. We will prepare for a reception device in the first instance, says Johanessen.

They currently have no idea why the ship grounded, and all passengers are still on board.

– Now the focus is to assist with rescue and reception of any. We do not know where they will be placed. The police are on their way there to prepare a reception in Solund, says the operations manager.

The police have been informed that it is about 70 people.

Hole in ballast tank

According to Hurtigruten’s communications adviser, Anja Bakken, no one has so far been retrieved from the ship.

– The situation at the site must be calm. The weather conditions are good, but they are losing water, they have got a hole in a ballast tank. It shouldn’t have anything to do with stability, says Bakken.

She cannot say anything about the reason why the ship ran aground, and points out that the situation is still unclear.

The coast guard vessel KV Bergen and tug Scandy Iceman, as well as an ambulance boat, have been sent to the scene, and the ambulance boat has arrived.

– Not the first time

The head of the postal boat in the area, Hans Emil Gåsvær, tells TV 2 that it is not the first time there have been groundings in the strait.

– It’s a very narrow race there. There may be currents, but it is difficult to speculate. But it is a narrow strait, says Gåsvær.

– I’m surprised, but if something like this happens, it’s in a place like this. It’s a random accident, I think. Boats have run aground in the area there before, he says.

– Serious

Director of Communications in the Norwegian Shipping Directorate, Dag Inge Aarhus, says they will supervise after the incident.

– Our role now will be to go on board for inspection when the ship arrives at the quay. We will carry out an inspection to see the extent of damage, see if it can be put into operation, and the shipping company must submit a damage report to us within 72 hours, says Aarhus.

He says it is too early to say what caused the accident.

– We do not want to speculate about it yet, but we are looking at the report and after our supervision. It is always serious when this happens.

The ship Richard With is named after Hurtigruten’s founder. The ship was built in 1993 and has a capacity of 590 passengers.

TV 2 was first informed that the ship had run aground outside Bergen, but the correct location is Ytre Steinsund in Sogn in Solund municipality.