BOA Management Readies to Lift Sinking Frigate

Norwegian offshore service provider BOA Management has started preparatory work for the salvage of now almost completely submerged Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad.
The work is said to be supported by DNV GL as an external consultant.
The plan is to gradually lift the vessel and transfer it to one of semi-submersible barges of BOA Management.
The salvage operation is expected to last around three weeks. The frigate is expected to head for Haakonsvern, the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in the Nordic area, at the beginning of December.
However, the overall salvage operation is dependent on many conditions including weather, stability of the vessel and environmental considerations, the Norwegian Navy said.
Once lifted, it would be possible to conduct thorough damage assessment of the vessel.
As World Maritime News reported, Helge Ingstad almost completely sank on November 13, despite being anchored to the land, with only the vessel’s radar tower protruding above the water.
According to the navy, there is still a risk that the vessel might slide further into the water. Activities are underway to stabilize the vessel.
The frigate started listing after colliding with Sola TS oil tanker at the Sture terminal in Øygarden, Norway, on Thursday morning, November 8. Eight people sustained minor injuries and 137 people were evacuated from the Norwegian frigate.
There were 23 people on board the oil tanker Sola TS when the collision occurred and there were no reported injuries. The Maltese-flagged Aframax, part of Tsakos Energy Navigation’s fleet, did not sustain damages below the waterline.
A minor fuel spill has been detected around the vessel, the leakage was dubbed as non-actionable as the thin layer of helicopter fuel was expected to evaporate and dissolve naturally.
The Norwegian Coast Guard is monitoring the scene and working on curbing further pollution from the vessel.

挪威離岸服務提供商BOA Management已經開始準備打撈現在幾乎完全被淹沒的挪威護衛艦Helge Ingstad。
據說這項工作得到了DNV GL作為外部顧問的支持。
計劃是逐步提升船隻並將其轉移到BOA管理的半潛式駁船之一。
打撈行動預計持續三週左右。該護衛艦預計將於12月初前往挪威皇家海軍主要基地Haakonsvern和北歐地區最大的海軍基地。
然而,整個打撈作業取決於許多條件,包括天氣,船隻的穩定性和環境因素,挪威海軍說。
一旦抬起,就可以對船舶進行徹底的損壞評估。
正如世界海事新聞報導的那樣,Helge Ingstad 在11月13日幾乎完全沉沒,儘管被錨定在陸地上,只有船隻的雷達塔突出於水面之上。
根據海軍的說法,船仍有可能進一步落入水中。正在計劃穩定船隻。
 11月8日星期四上午,該護衛艦在挪威Øygarden的Sture航站樓 與Sola TS油輪發生碰撞後開始上市。8人受輕傷,137人從挪威護衛艦撤離。
當碰撞發生時,油輪Sola TS上有23人,沒有報告受傷。作為Tsakos Energy Navigation艦隊的一部分,馬耳他國旗的Aframax沒有在水線以下遭受損失。
在船隻周圍檢測到輕微的燃油洩漏,漏油被稱為不可動作,因為預計直升機燃料的薄層會自然蒸發和溶解。
挪威海岸警衛隊正在監視現場並努力遏制船隻近一步污染。


Information source: World Maritime News Staff , Image Courtesy: Defense News