A fishing vessel was rescued off the coast of Finnmark, Norway, on Saturday after taking on water in the Varangerfjord. All three crew members were safely evacuated and are being brought ashore, according to Tore Hongseth, rescue leader at the Main Rescue Coordination Centre Northern Norway.
The distress signal, originating from a distress beacon, reached the Main Rescue Coordination Centre (HRS) on Saturday morning. Initial reports indicated the vessel was experiencing significant water ingress between Bugøynes and Vadsø, in eastern Finnmark.
“The most acute phase of the rescue operation now appears to be over,” stated Theodor Weberg-Ellingsen, operations leader at the Finnmark police district, shortly before noon local time. He confirmed that several vessels responded to the call for assistance and were able to take the crew aboard.
Weather conditions in the area were described as challenging, with heavy snow and thick fog hindering visibility and complicating rescue efforts. “There is challenging weather at the scene. There are reports of thick fog and difficult working conditions,” Weberg-Ellingsen said. NRK’s reporter on site corroborated the conditions, reporting heavy snowfall.
A rescue helicopter and a rescue vessel from Vardø were dispatched to assist, though the adverse weather initially raised concerns about the helicopter’s ability to operate. At 11:27 local time, police reported that the helicopter was observing the vessel and guiding a civilian RIB boat towards it to provide assistance. By 11:41, two fishing boats and the RIB had reached the stricken vessel.
The Main Rescue Coordination Centre Northern Norway confirmed control of the situation at 12:10. The vessel is now being towed to the port of Vadsø, according to HRS.
The Hovedredningssentralen (HRS) is a state-owned organization responsible for coordinating search and rescue operations across Norway, both at sea, on land, and in the air. The HRS Northern Norway is led by the Police Chief responsible for Bodø, as outlined in the organization’s structure.
Separately, emergency services in Nordkapp responded to a motorcycle accident on the E69 highway near Skipsfjorden on Saturday afternoon. A rescue helicopter from Banak was dispatched to the scene, though details regarding the extent of any injuries were not immediately available.
