Bid to rescue leaking seal-hunting ship

A Norwegian seal-hunting ship with 13 crew sprang a leak in stormy weather off eastern Greenland this morning, and a reconnaissance aircraft and a sea rescue ship were being sent to the area, the Norwegian sea rescue service said.

“The crew is trying to repair the leak, but it is impossible to say if they will manage,” sea rescue service spokesman Bord Mortensen said.

According to Mr Mortensen, there is a hole in the hull of the Havsel and it is taking in water.

The ship was in Icelandic waters halfway between Greenland and the small island of Jan Mayen, and the rescue service in Iceland was trying to send a helicopter to the ship.

The operation was risky because of bad weather in the area, Mr Mortensen said.

The Norwegian rescue ship will not arrive in the area until late Monday night because of the distance, he said.

There were no further details available.