I like how the Ajax first helps push the Sola off before heading back to port, then immediately heads out to help push the Helge Ingstad onto the shore once the mayday call goes out. No holding of asses there…
The poor reporting is by no means confined to Norwegian media. Marine accident reporting in general is pretty cringe worthy, and I’ve seen far more grievous examples. I immediately think of the tour boat that recently went down with a bunch of fatalities in a squall, and how all the media outlets were falling over themselves with blaming the skipper for not avoiding it even though he had radar…
Given what I’ve seen of the damage, I’d be very surprised to hear that they can re-establish watertight integrity on site. She’ll probably have to be lifted where she lies. One would think that there is a floating dock or two in Bergen that could handle the job…
The engineering spaces look to be flooded, and it is generally a terrible mess. What with the history of these boats, I bet she’ll get scrapped for parts.
There are at least a couple of Crane vessels (SSCV) that can lift this one with ease, but I’m not sure if there are any available on short notice, or if they are all occupied outside Northern Europe at the moment.
Even more HLV and barges that could carry the wreck to a shipyard anywhere in the world once she is lifted, or re-floated by other means. (Blue Marlin is just one of them)
PS> Just checked. Saipem 7000 is in Botlek and have been there for a couple of months.
Thialf is off USEC, heading to Spain. Balder is still working in GoM.
The days of Boka (formerly Dockwise) monopoly is long gone. There are a number of ships that can carry this one. OHT have 5 of them with Norwegian flag. BOA, another Norwegian company, have some very large barges.(Not that that will make any difference in a competitive bidding contest)
What the heck is going on?!!!
The gods of seafearing nations… in a brand new fast mover?..
Run over by a tanker with a tug in tow?..
Dogs and cats… living together…
“Ummm… scuse me sirs… about that bloody great big tanker creeping towards us… it’s excessively awkward to mention it again’ but…shouldn’t we like…Move or something.”
Too Long; Don’t Read Norwegian: Both the captain and pilot of the Sola made visual contact with the Helge Ingstad and informed by VHF that they were on a collision course. The Helge Ingstad responded with “We’ve got it under control”. VTS independently spotted the developing situation and hailed them as well.
The Mate on watch on Vestbris did everything right when the ship he was about to overtake suddenly turned into his path:
He had no idea that the frigate was coming against him and did not understand the conversations on VHF in the minutes before.
That shows the importance of using Maritime English in such communications at sea, not Norwegian or whichever is the local language. (Or American slang for that matter)