Patrol ship retrieves stricken cargo vessel

Icelandic Coast Guard patrol ship Þór has reached a cargo vessel belonging to Icelandic logistics company Samskip, which suffered engine failure on Sunday 160 nautical miles south-west of the Faroe Islands.

Hof­fell is a 5,500-tonne container ship carrying thirteen crew. Its engine broke down on Sunday and the crew have been unable to restart it.

It has taken Þór just over 24 hours to make the journey to the stricken vessel, arriving just before 11 am this morning.

A tow-cable has been succesfully attached and Þór is now towing Hof­fell back to saefty in Reykjavik. They are expected to arrive at the end of this week.

Hoffell. Photo: Samskip