Norwegian longliner Veidar has suffered a fire on board while fishing off the Norwegian coast, and emergency services are at the scene, with more assistance on the way.
Veidar reported a fire had broken out on board at 2035, with 17 of the 22 crew evacuating into liferafts while five remained on board. The maritime rescue centre mobilised helicopters, a rescue vessel and the Coast Guard, and a Sea King dispatched from Bodø was at the scene within an hour. Lifeboats from Ballstad and Röst are also on the way to the scene.
Of those in the life rafts, 14 have been airlifted to Leknes where a reception centre has been set up, while eight of Veidar’s crew remain on board and in a small lifeboat close by.
Veidar’s owners are reported to have immediately initiated emergency planning, with the crew’s relatives informed and the company is working with the police in liaising with relatives.
Coast Guard vessel Andenes is now at the scene and is co-ordinating operations, with fire teams with breathing apparatus transferred to the longliner to tackle the fire.
The 55 metre Veidar was built at Simek in 2018.
