Norway to Scrap Wrecked Frigate Helge Ingstad

The wrecked Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad will be scrapped in Norway now more than two years after its collision with a tanker outside the Sture Terminal.

Norwegian defense ministry Forsvarsmateriell reports that a contract for the demolition and recycling of the vessel has been awarded to Norscrap West AS. Work will be carried out at the company’s facilities in Hanøytangen, Norway.

The Helge Ingstad is currently pierside in Ågotnes, Norway, awaiting finalized plans to be moved to demolition site sometime in February, pending weather or other delays.

Demolition of the vessel is expected to cost about NOK 60 million with some of the costs expected to be offset by the resale value of any recyclable material. Work is planned to be complete by the end of the year.

The Helge Ingstad collided with the oil tanker Sola TS as the tanker was departing the Sture terminal in the Hjeltefjord in November 2018, causing extensive damage to the starboard side of the frigate which caused it to partially sink along the shoreline.

An Accident Investigation Board Norway investigation revealed multiple operational, technical, organizational and systemic factors contributing to the accident. Notably that frigate was not transmitting its automatic identification system signal when it collided with the tanker in the dark early morning hours.

Norscrap beat out four other suppliers for the demolition conctract.

“We are satisfied with the conclusion of the contract for the destruction of the frigate Helge Ingstad,” said technical director of Defense Materiel Jonny M. Otterlei. “We have set strict requirements for the implementation of the destruction, and taken care of both environmental aspects and safety considerations. After an overall assessment, it was Norscrap West AS that was the one of the providers that had the most advantageous offer.”

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