In the very last days of 2018, the “Northguider” prawn trawler ran aground in the Hinlopen Strait in Svalbard. It has now been decided to cut up the vessel on-site before removing it, according to Norwegian broacaster NRK.

When a Dutch salvaging company was to remove the vessel in the summer of 2019, it was discovered that damages were more serious than assumed, while the process at the same time was delayed due to ice and weather conditions. Eventually, the effort was interrupted mid-October.

This winter, the Hinlopen Strait has been fully frozen for the first time in 30 years. The current coal is to resume work to remove “Northguider” in July.

“The current plan is to cut it into pieces, lift these over onto a barge and transport them to the mainland. We are now awaiting detailed plans from the salvaging company”, says Senior Advisor Rune Bergstrøm of the Norwegian Coastal Administration.