The start of the complex raising operation of KNM “Helge Ingstad” began on Tuesday.
In November last year, the Aegis combat system equipped Norwegian frigate “Helge Ingstad” had a collision with the oil tanker “Sola” and suffered significant damage near Bergen, Norway. Following the collision, samples from salmon farms were investigated near the accident. Test results showed that fish from six farms surveyed had not been contaminated by emissions from the failed frigate.
On Tuesday, the Armed Forces sent out a press release that plans to raise the vessel.
“Everything is ready on “Helge Ingstad”, and technically the vessel is now ready for raising. But most importantly, it seems that we have the weather window we need,” said salvage manager Anders Penna from BOA, the company responsible for the planning and implementation of the operation.
Pen says the salvage operation is very complex and time consuming.
“Raising such a large vessel like this is very special. Had this been a smaller, civilian vessel, it would most likely have been broken up into smaller parts and then been raised in parts,” said Penna.
The crane vessels “Gulliver” and “Rambiz” must lift the frigate simultaneously with four cranes. According to the Armed Forces, the action must be synchronized, requiring the vessels to lie completely at rest next to each other. In addition, there needs to be little wind and waves – which is not very common along the west coast of Norway in winter. A number of swells are still expected on Wednesday, which may lead to changes in the operation.
About 300 people are involved in raising operation, which is expected to take five to six days.
NRK is extensively covering the KNM “Helge Ingstad” operation.
