RESIDENTS of a Norwegian coastal town reported being awoken early Monday morning to a loud boom that turned out to have been a collision between three short sea vessels navigating in one of the coastal fjords on Norway’s west coast.
The authorities are trying to sort out the circumstances of the unusual collision between the three ships, which left one taking on water and all three damaged.
The collision took place on October 5, near Alesund.
Two of the vessels were sailing to the north through Valderhaugfjorden, and the third was sailing to the south.
The police report poor visibility and darkness, but a video obtained by Norwegian broadcaster NRK appears to show normal nighttime conditions. The loud bang can clearly be heard as the vessels collide.
Media reports on Monday said that three crewmembers had been placed under suspicion of careless navigation. However, the authorities would only say that the investigation was still underway.
It is unclear from the reports which vessels collided first or how three vessels could have become involved in one collision.
The reports said there were approximately 30 crew members between the three ships, and while the crews were uninjured, all three vessels have sustained significant damage.
The emergency call came into the rescue authority, which dispatched one of its boats. The Navy sent thefrigate Fridtjof Nansen, and a rescue helicopter was seen overhead using its spotlight. Local emergency services from shore also responded, but no evacuations were required.
The Norwegian Safety Authority reported that two of the vessels, Bergfjord and Hav Frakt, have been detained and will require repairs before they are permitted to sail.
The third vessel, a small tanker, Xanthia, sustained damage, but inspectors from DNV told the authorities the hull was sound and it was permitted to resume its trip to Finland, where it will undergo further inspections.
