Tour vessel MS ISBJORNEN 2 with 12 French tourists and 3 crew on board ran aground in Borebukta, Spitsbergen, Arctic, in the evening May 22. All 12 tourists were airlifted by helicopter to safety, vessel reportedly suffered hull breach followed by oil leak, she developed starboard list. Vessel was refloated early in the morning May 23 and as of 0450 UTC May 23, is understood to move under tow to Longyearbyen. MS ISBJORNEN 2 ran aground in the same place a year earlier.
May 23 0500 UTC UPDATE: She’s on tow of Coast Guard patrol ship NOCGV SVALBARD, caravan took starboard turn at around 0430 UTC and is sailing in SW direction, destination unclear, vessel’s condition probably deteriorated.
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