The fate of the “Eemslift Hendrika” remains uncertain this Wednesday morning.
The Dutch freighter, which has been adrift for two days in the Norwegian Sea, without engines or crew, should be towed during the day if weather conditions allow, announced the Norwegian maritime authorities.
VIDEO.
The crew of an out of control freighter rescued in a storm
Two Norwegian tugs chartered by the Dutch rescue company Smit Salvage arrived in the area where the cargo is located overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, and four Smit Salvage employees are also expected on site.
WATCH: Twelve crew members have been saved from a Dutch cargo ship in danger of capsizing off the coast of Norway.
Some were airlifted while others were rescued from the ship's deck.
pic.twitter.com/BvvRaxb6Wf
- DW News (@dwnews) April 7, 2021
If the weather permits, they will be helicoptered aboard the “Eemslift Hendrika” to install tow cables before the freighter is pulled into calmer waters.
“We are optimistic that this will happen in the morning.
Apparently this is looking good, ”said Hans-Petter Mortensholm, head of the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket).
Waves of six to eight meters
The "Eemslift Hendrika" launched a distress call late Monday morning while carrying several smaller boats between Bremerhaven (Germany) and Kolvereid (Norway).
In the grip of an engine damage, it had been evacuated in spectacular circumstances by its 12 crew members when it presented a significant list, causing the Norwegian authorities to fear that it would capsize and cause an oil leak.
"We consider this risk to be lower now," said Hans-Petter Mortensholm.
Video tatt fra LN-KYV av havaristen Eemslift Hendrika.
#EemsliftHendrika pic.twitter.com/qzqvOu0g7y
- Svein Harald Antonsen (@redundanton) April 7, 2021
Having lost some of her cargo - one of the boats that was on deck - and benefitting from a slight improvement in the weather, the vessel gained stability, Kystverket said.
If the wind remains strong at around 15 m per second and the waves high (between six and eight meters), the freighter, which is between 22 and 28 kilometers from Stad (western Norway), is currently drifting following a parallel course. on the coast, removing the risk of it running aground.