The massive heavy-lift crane vessel Saipem 7000 went down in a Norwegian fjord near Stavanger on Thursday after a hoisting mishap.
A hoisting operation has been reported by the Norwegian rescue services. A barge near the crane ship capsized. The team is safe.
Online reports mentioned explosions. In photos and videos posted online, the ship’s main deck is nearly submerged.
The issue was “under control,” according to the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and the crane vessel may have been righted.
Rescue at sea. Ongoing situation
One of the biggest Crane vessels in the world, tilting after a sudden explosion 20 min's ago. 275 ppl on board #Stavanger #Åmøyfjorden #Norway #Saipem7000 #MaritimeSecurity pic.twitter.com/dM8LePv8Dd— Sea & son (@OnDeepWater) April 14, 2022
“The incident seems to be under control. A lift of a larger barge smoke, and caused an imbalance in weight. The crane vessel is now straightened up, while the barge lies upside down next to the vessel. The Norwegian Coastal Administration has pilots on board,” the agency wrote on Twitter (translated from Norwegian).
The barge, which can hold up to 2,000 litres of oil, has a sheen in the water, the Norwegian Coastal Administration stated.
A closer look at the damages
#Saipem7000 #Maritime pic.twitter.com/UqzwqZKbPF— Sea & son (@OnDeepWater) April 14, 2022
Built-in 1987, the Saipem 7000 is a dynamically positioned semisubmersible crane vessel owned by Saipem S.p.A. The ship has two 7,000 tonne twin cranes, enabling for tandem lifts up to 14,000 mt.
In 2019, the vessel lifted an 11,100 mt gas compression topside module for a platform in the Ku Maloob Zaap oil field in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico.
AIS ship monitoring data from MarineTraffic revealed the Saipem 7000 left Rotterdam on April 8 and arrived in Stavenger on April 13.
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