Arctic-bound Russian icebreaker gets Norway’s help following engine troubles

Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 15:19
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A picture taken on April 16, 2015 shows the icebreaker Tor at the port of Sabetta in the Kara Sea shore line on the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic circle, some 2450 km of Moscow. The Tor encountered engine troubles in the Norwegian Sea and required help from Norway’s rescue services, Tuesday. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)

The diesel-powered Tor on Tuesday morning issued a plea for help to Norwegian rescue services.

There is stormy weather on the west Norwegian coast and the Russian icebreaker on Tuesday morning reported that it was experiencing a halt in engine power.

The ship was located off the coast of Ålesund when the situation occured. A helicopter from the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre quickly made it to the site, and tugboats are on their way, the rescue service informed.

There are 33 people onboard the ship that is owned and operated by Rosmorport, the Russian state port and logistics company.

The 84.5 meter-long Tor was built in 1964 and has St.Petersburg as its home port. It is on its way to Sabetta, the Russian seaport in the peninsula of Sabetta in Arctic Russia.

According to Norwegian rescue services, the ship later in the morning retained parts of its engine power and the situation is no longer considered critical, broadcaster NRK reports.