Norwegian search and rescue crews are responding to a yacht transport ship that is listing after its cargo reportedly shifted off the west coast of Norway on Monday.
The heavy-lift cargo ship appears to be the MV Eemslift Hendrika belonging to Starclass Yacht Transport, which operates two vessels, including the Eemslift Hendrika, and offers regular yacht transport between Norway and Turkey.
Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center reports receiving a distress signal from the vessel, which was located 60 nautical miles west of Ålesund, Norway with 12 crew members on board. The organization sent 3 helicopters and 2 vessels to assist.
SAR crews initially evacuated 8 crew members, leaving 4 remaining on board. However, an update later on Monday said all crew members have been evacuated and the ship is abandoned and listing by as much as 30 degrees.
The Norwegian Coastal Administration and the shipping company are reportedly working on a plan for the vessel.
One person was reported injured and taken to a hospital.
MV Eemslift Hendrika, built in 2015, is managed by Amasus Shipping B.V. and is registered in the Netherlands. AIS data shows the ship departed Bremerhaven, Germany on March 4 with a destination of Kolvereid, Norway.
A video of the vessel filmed from a SAR helicopter is below:
Update: An update on Tuesday revealed that the four crew members who remained on board had to don survival suits and jump in to the water for rescue. The vessel remains adrift off the west coast of Norway and drifting towards the southwest.
Reports indicate Smit Salvage has been hired to retrieve the ship.
“Spire’s weather forecast issued at 00:00 UTC on April 6th predicted wind gusts at speeds of 80 Km/h (50 mph) and wave heights of 10.3 meters and above,” according to Simon van den Dries, General Manager at Spire Maritime, which provides live marine data on vessel locations, weather conditions, and global shipping activity.
The image below shows the Eemslift Hendrika’s position and its drift.
A fire aboard a Norwegian chemical tanker was extinguished Monday after an apparent explosion prompted a large-scale emergency response off Norway’s southeast coast, with all 15 crew members accounted for...
A merchant vessel diverted to assist in the rescue of 14 Indian mariners after their vessel became disabled and was abandoned off the coast of Oman, according to statements from...
The search for six missing mariners aboard the overturned US-flagged cargo ship Mariana took a grim turn Monday after divers recovered one deceased crew member from inside the wreck, even as U.S....
April 22, 2026
Total Views: 2084
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 107,314 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 107,314 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.