Yacht Transport Ship in Trouble Off Norway

Mike Schuler

April 5, 2021

Norwegian search and rescue crews are responding to a yacht transport ship that is listing after its cargo reportedly shifted off the west coast of Norway on Monday.

The heavy-lift cargo ship appears to be the MV Eemslift Hendrika belonging to Starclass Yacht Transport, which operates two vessels, including the Eemslift Hendrika, and offers regular yacht transport between Norway and Turkey.

Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center reports receiving a distress signal from the vessel, which was located 60 nautical miles west of Ålesund, Norway with 12 crew members on board. The organization sent 3 helicopters and 2 vessels to assist.

SAR crews initially evacuated 8 crew members, leaving 4 remaining on board. However, an update later on Monday said all crew members have been evacuated and the ship is abandoned and listing by as much as 30 degrees.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration and the shipping company are reportedly working on a plan for the vessel.

One person was reported injured and taken to a hospital.

MV Eemslift Hendrika, built in 2015, is managed by Amasus Shipping B.V. and is registered in the Netherlands. AIS data shows the ship departed Bremerhaven, Germany on March 4 with a destination of Kolvereid, Norway.

A video of the vessel filmed from a SAR helicopter is below:

Update: An update on Tuesday revealed that the four crew members who remained on board had to don survival suits and jump in to the water for rescue. The vessel remains adrift off the west coast of Norway and drifting towards the southwest.

Reports indicate Smit Salvage has been hired to retrieve the ship.

“Spire’s weather forecast issued at 00:00 UTC on April 6th predicted wind gusts at speeds of 80 Km/h (50 mph) and wave heights of 10.3 meters and above,” according to Simon van den Dries, General Manager at Spire Maritime, which provides live marine data on vessel locations, weather conditions, and global shipping activity.

The image below shows the Eemslift Hendrika’s position and its drift. 

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