Ostensjo Rederi has revealed how it evacuated 121 traumatised young recruits from the Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad following a collision with a Tsakos tanker.
The 134-metre navy vessel (built 2009) went down off Norway in the early hours of 8 November following the incident involving the 113,000-dwt aframax Sola TS (built 2017).
Ostensjo had three tugs at the Sture oil and gas terminal, two of which were assisting the Greek tanker at the time.
All three were pressed into service in the emergency, the owner said.
After the collision, the 6,850-hp Tenax (built 2006) stayed with Sola TS, while the 10,400-hp Ajax (built 2000) and the 6,850-hp Velox (built 2005) safely evacuated the sinking naval vessel.
"Many of those who were evacuated were partly in shock, some were also injured," said Ostensjo CEO Kenneth Walland.
"They were 121 young people. I suppose many of them were asleep in their cabins when the accident occurred. Our crew and vessels made sure they were safely and quickly transported from the sinking vessel to the Sture terminal."
After evacuating the crew, Ajax and Velox began the task of moving the frigate to dry land, both to prevent pollution and to prevent it from sinking.
Sola TS had urged the navy vessel to turn ahead of the clash.
Helge Ingstad was warned four times about the impending collision, according to a recording of communications cited by the Verdens Gang daily.
Eight people on the frigate suffered minor injuries.
