The 39 meter long, 340 gt passenger ship Polargirl went aground off Spitsbergen near Grumant, Norway. The Polargirl was on schedule voyage between Longyearbyen and Barentsburg with 28 passengers and 5 crew when it ran aground. The passengers were safely evacuated to shore and were returned to Longyearbyen by helicopter. No reports of injuries. Reports state the vessel did not suffer any water ingress and was in little risk of danger as weather conditions were good.
The 78 meter long, 2724 dwt freighter Longshan went aground in the East China Sea at Jeju Island, South Korea. The Longshan struck a reef off the coast causing hull damage with ballast and fuel tanks breached on the port side. The crew contacted the Coast Guard who dispatched rescue crafts to the scene. The 12 crew on board were safely rescued. A large oil spill formed estimated around 2,000 litres from the ruptured fuel tanks. The authorities placed booms around the vessel to contain the pollution released while response crews begin clean up operations. Reports state the Longshan had some 35 tons of fuel oil with another 5 tons of diesel fuel on board. Local residents reported the strong smell of the oil pollution caused headaches and nausea with some to vomit. The Coast Guard stated the Longshan would be towed off the reef at the next high tide.
The 27 meter long fishing vessel Svebas went aground near Ormøygalten, Norway. The vessel was en route to Narvik from Sogn with three crew on board when it ran aground onto a reef. The vessel remained high and dry as the tide receded. No reports of injuries or damage. The rescue boat arrived on scene and rescued all three crew to Brønnøysund. The Svebas was refloated by a tug on the next high tide on the following day. The fishing vessel was able to continue on its voyage.
