Cement carrier sinking in the Oslo Fjord

The Norwegian-owned, Bahamas-flagged 4,556-DWT cement carrier Crete Cement, built 2002, is sinking after having grounding off Fagerstrand in the Oslo Fjord. The pilot-assisted vessel grounded, managed to re-float but the flooding was extensive and the master decided to ground the vessel again to avoid sinking. A rescue vessel and a tug has tried to keep the vessel on the ground, but the flooding has exceed the capacity of the pumps brought onboard. By 8.30, the weather deck was submerged. The vessel is said to be fully loaded and have 115 tons of fuel oil, 19 tons of diesel and 6,000 litres of lube oil onboard. All onboard, 12 crew members and the pilot have been evacuated. The cause of the accident is not known. Crete Cement is owned by the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Rederi group.