Landing Craft Runs Aground off Norway, Fuel Spills

On November 8, the landing craft Soroysund ran aground near Fjelldal, Norway. Fortunately, all crewmembers were reported safe and unharmed.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) launched a salvage operation the following day, November 9. However, the operation was halted after a leak was detected in one of the ship’s fuel tanks. The incident led to an estimated spill of about 4,000 liters of diesel into the surrounding waters.

Authorities have since started transferring the remaining 27,000 cubic meters of fuel into 1,000-liter tanks. Containment booms were deployed to prevent further spread of the spill, while cleanup teams continued working along nearby marinas and shorelines.

According to the local municipality, reconnaissance aircraft and monitoring crews are conducting aerial and marine surveys to assess the environmental damage and ensure containment measures remain effective.

The Soroysund, which sails under the Norwegian flag, is believed to remain grounded.