Three vessels, including the XANTHIA tanker, collided near Ålesund, Norway, causing damage but no injuries among the 30 crew members on board.
A maritime accident involving the chemical tanker XANTHIA and two cargo ships, HAV FRAKT and BERGFJORD, occurred off the coast of Ålesund, Norway, resulting in damage to all three vessels. It was reported that none of the 30 people on board were injured, while it was announced that the BERGFJORD began taking on water following the incident.
A collision involving three commercial vessels occurred in the waters of Valderhaugfjorden in the Ålesund region on Norway's west coast. Initial reports indicated that the chemical tanker XANTHIA and the cargo ships HAV FRAKT and BERGFJORD were involved in the accident.
Following the incident, maritime safety units in the area began assessing the condition of the vessels.
An emergency distress call was received by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (HRS) for Norway's Southern Region via coastal radio at 01:37 on Sunday, October 4. It was determined that the accident occurred in the narrow passage east of Valderøya Island, heading towards Hamnøya. According to officials, all vessels were underway, with two ships heading north and one ship heading south.
Visibility was reported to be low at the time of the accident, and the exact cause of the collision could not be determined in initial investigations.
The vessel BERGFJORD sustained significant damage to its bow and began taking on water. The operator of the Norwegian-flagged XANTHIA tanker, Utkilen, stated that the vessel was transporting calcium carbonate slurry from Elnesvågen to Förby Port in Finland.
According to Utkilen's statement, there was no water ingress or cargo leakage from the XANTHIA.
The cargo ship HAV FRAKT was reported to be operated by the Faroese company Navigare, with seven crew members on board at the time of the accident.
Following the collision, Norwegian authorities initiated a large-scale rescue operation. The Norwegian Navy's KNM FRIDTJOF NANSEN frigate, along with maritime rescue boats, civilian vessels, and a rescue helicopter, was dispatched to the area.
Once it was determined that all 30 sailors on board the vessels were safe, there was no need for evacuation, and the rescue helicopter returned to base.
Two ships made their way to Ålesund Port under their own power, while the XANTHIA initially anchored in the area. The Norwegian police announced that the rescue operation concluded at 06:04 on October 4.
In a second statement made on the evening of October 4, Utkilen reported that the XANTHIA was safely moored in Ålesund and that a damage assessment had been completed in collaboration with the classification organization DNV.
Following the inspection, the tanker was granted permission to proceed to the discharge port in Finland, with the condition that it would go to the shipyard for repairs after unloading its cargo.
It was revealed that the double-hulled XANTHIA, built in Norway in 2003, has a crew of 16, consisting of sailors from the Baltic countries and the Philippines.
Norwegian police and maritime authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
