The crew of a Dutch cargo vessel were rescued by helicopter as their ship developed a heavy list in the Norwegian Sea late on Monday (5 April).

Now there are concerns that the Eemslift Hendrika, which remains adrift with its cargo of boats, could capsize and cause a serious pollution incident.

According to Marine Industry News, shifting cargo on deck caused the vessel to destabilise amid extreme weather with 15-metre swells some 60 miles off Ålesund in Norway.

Dramatic footage from Norway’s coastguard shows some the 12 crew leaping into the water as the vessel listed dangerously.

Along with its cargo of boats, including a motor yacht, the Eemslift Hendrika has some 350 tonnes of heavy oil and 50 tonnes of diesel fuel.

“What is important is that we now get measures taken so that we can prevent the vessel from posing an environmental hazard. That is our main focus,” Hans Petter Mortensholm of the Norwegian Coastal Administration said.

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.