Portuguese Navy’s Training Ship NRP Polar Sinks At Lisbon Naval Base

The Portuguese Navy’s training vessel, NRP Polar, sank at its mooring in the early hours of the morning at the Alfeite Naval Base in Lisbon. The vessel went down unexpectedly, with water rapidly entering the hull, causing it to lose buoyancy.

The navy has not yet provided an official explanation for the incident. However, initial reports confirm that no crew members were injured, and there are no immediate environmental risks.

As a precaution, containment booms have been placed around the sunken ship to prevent any possible pollution. Naval divers and technical teams have already begun efforts to assess the damage and identify the cause of the flooding.

The process to refloat the vessel has also started, but authorities have not disclosed how long the operation will take. Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing to determine what led to the incident.

NRP Polar, originally named Anne Linde, was built in 1977 at the Phoenix B.V. shipyard in Westerbroek, Rotterdam. Initially registered in Viersen, Germany, the vessel operated as a charter cruise ship until 1982.

The following year, the Portuguese Navy acquired it and officially incorporated it into its fleet in 1985 as a training ship for naval cadets.

The 75-foot gaff rigged schooner has been a key part of the Naval School’s training program, providing hands-on experience for cadets. The vessel could accommodate 12 trainees at a time.

For now, salvage teams remain at work, and investigations continue into what caused the vessel to take on water so suddenly.

Reference: portugalresident

Source: Maritime Shipping News