Cargo Ship Refloated After Running Aground Near Svinesund Bridge

A timber-laden cargo ship that ran aground near the Svinesund Bridge on the early hours of 16 October (Wednesday) has been successfully refloated and towed to the Norwegian port of Halden. The incident occurred in dense fog and caused no injuries or oil spills.

The vessel, Hagland Captain, measuring around 90 metres in length, was sailing from Porsgrunn to Halden when it grounded just after 1 a.m. on the Swedish side of the Norway–Sweden border. The ship was carrying a cargo of timber, 85 tonnes of diesel, and 3 tonnes of lubricants at the time.

The Swedish Coast Guard was alerted at approximately 1:30 a.m. and immediately dispatched personnel to the scene. A tugboat coordinated by the Vessel Traffic Service arrived around 3:30 a.m., accompanied by the patrol vessel KBV 310.

Divers were later deployed to examine the hull for underwater damage, and no major structural issues were found that could hinder a towing operation. The crew underwent breathalyser tests as part of standard procedure, and the results indicated that alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) helped transport environmental protection equipment, while the Swedish Transport Agency, Strömstad rescue services, and Norwegian authorities were also informed. The Norwegian Environmental Emergency Response Team was placed on standby in case pollution was detected.

On Thursday morning, Coast Guard divers carried out further underwater inspections to assess the situation. With no serious damage found, the ship was pulled free shortly before 3 p.m. using two chartered tugboats and then towed to Halden.

The Coast Guard vessel KBV 032 from Lysekil accompanied the tow to ensure that no oil leaked into the water. Upon arrival and mooring in Halden, the Coast Guard was able to conclude its rescue operations and return to normal duties.

Authorities stated that the vessel had about 88,000 litres of oil on board, most of which was diesel contained within its fuel tanks. No oil release was detected during or after the refloating process.

The grounding is believed to have been caused by poor visibility from dense fog. A preliminary investigation into possible negligence has been launched.

Reference: Swedish Coast Guard

Source: Maritime Shipping News