The DFDS Ro-Ro cargo ship Finlandia Seaways (8,700 dwt) grounded on 5 December 2024 after departing Norway. It was quickly evident that this was no ordinary incident as the Norwegian military established a security zone and confirmed the ship was loaded with military equipment bound for Poland to protect NATO allies.
The Norwegian Defense Force had chartered the Danish-registered ship from DFDS, loading military supplies near Kristiansund under tight security. The vessel departed on December 4 but grounded late on December 5 in the narrow Karmsundet Strait near Haugesund.
Tug were required to hold the vessel in place due to high winds, with reports of a small intake of water. The ship’s rudder and propeller were damaged, but there were no injuries among the 23 crew members, and no evacuation was needed.
A security zone was established around the ship as it was confirmed to be carrying a NASAMS air defense system destined for Rzeszow’s Jasionka airport in Poland. The grounding occurred around 9:30pm local time, and when the winds subsided, the vessel was docked in Husoya, Norway. The military is now looking for a replacement vessel, causing a slight delay in delivering the equipment to Poland.
The Norwegian Coast Guard and Maritime Safety Authority are investigating the incident, which occurred as the pilot was preparing to leave the vessel. Both the pilot and captain were tested for alcohol, but there were no detentions. The military downplayed the incident, describing it as ‘nothing dramatic’.
Photo by Hans.Esveldt/shipspotting.com
