Norwegian coast guard reaches abandoned cargo ship drifting at sea

The Norwegian coast guard is en route to the bulk carrier LMZ Pluto, which has been drifting unmanned in the Norwegian Sea since its 23 crew members were evacuated on Tuesday, authorities confirmed Wednesday evening.

According to the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket), the vessel is located west of Haltenbanken, beyond Norway’s 12-nautical-mile territorial limit. Communications director Anette Bonnevie Wollebæk told Dagbladet the coast guard ship is expected to reach the drifting vessel overnight, weather permitting.

“It’s far out at sea, and conditions are challenging,” Wollebæk said. Aerial inspections on Monday showed no signs of leaks or immediate hazards to other maritime traffic, she added. Drift calculations—updated daily with a 48-hour forecast—indicate the ship poses no current risk to nearby vessels.

The 23 evacuated crew, all Filipino nationals, were airlifted to Trondheim Airport, Værnes, where police conducted identity checks before handing them over to the ship’s operator. Under international maritime law, the shipping company is responsible for salvage operations.

The LMZ Pluto issued a distress signal Tuesday afternoon amid rough weather. The cause of the evacuation has not been disclosed.