Cargo ship sends distress signal in Norwegian Sea with 23 aboard

A bulk carrier with 23 people on board has issued a distress call after losing propulsion in rough weather in the Norwegian Sea, Norway’s Southern Norway Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (HRS) confirmed to Dagbladet.

The vessel, identified as the LMZ Pluto, reported engine failure and requested evacuation assistance, prompting a coordinated rescue operation. A Sea King rescue helicopter from Ørland Air Station has been dispatched, along with a search-and-rescue (SAR) offshore helicopter.

“We are in direct contact with the ship,” HRS stated. “Conditions are poor, and they are experiencing propulsion issues.”

Tracking data from MarineTraffic indicates the ship, registered in the Marshall Islands and built in 2011, was en route from Murmansk, Russia, to Santa Marta, Colombia, when the incident occurred.

The distress call was first reported by Norwegian broadcaster TV 2.