The Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad, which sank on 8 November 2018 after colliding with an oil tanker, has now been refloated.
To raise the vessel, Scaldis' multipurpose heavy lift barges, the Rambiz and Gulliver, were deployed to Norway to raise the frigate and place it on a semi-submersible barge.
Weather Window
Operation for raising the partly sunken frigate Helge Ingstad started in the early morning of Tuesday 26 February. The operation to raise the ship out of the water was complex and postponed several times due to rough weather conditions. To raise the frigate safely, wind and waves had to be calm for five to six consecutive days with a maximum wave height of 0.5 m.
The first phase of the operation was mostly conducted under water. Since November, divers and personnel had been working to pull several lifting chains around the hull.
Towed to a New Location to Proceed Raising Operation
Because high waves persisted at the collision site (close to the Sture Terminal), on Wednesday morning it was decided to tow the barges and wreck to Hanøytangen, approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of the collision site. The new location had calmer sea and wind, making it possible to conduct the raising safely.
To be able to move the frigate to Hanøytangen, some of the water inside the frigate needed to be drained. The frigate was subsequently connected and locked to the two barges Gulliver and Rambiz, making it one unit. Tug boats then towed the unit from the collision site to the new site at Hanøytangen.
Raising the Frigate
Four large hoists on the two barges then slowly lifted the frigate from the seabed.
Watch a time-lapse of the raising operation below.
Onto a Semi-submersible Barge
The frigate was then raised onto a semi-submersible barge, which was subsequently raised to the surface. Aboard the barge, Helge Ingstad was shipped to Haakonsvern Naval Base, Bergen, where it arrived on 4 March.
Plans for Repairs
The Norwegian Navy plans to quickly restore the frigate Helge Ingstad, national broadcaster NRK reported. The Norwegian Navy believes the vessel could be afloat again on its own within six weeks. Yet, other options are also considered should it be impossible or to expensive to repair the vessel, including replacing the frigate with a new one, with smaller vessels, with submarines or with maritime patrol flights.
Picture by the Norwegian Armed Forces.
