Reviews & Ratings for the Bergstraum

On July 28, 2026, at 3:43 p.m. local time, authorities were alerted to an explosive incident followed by a fire aboard the 'Bergstraum'. The tanker, which was carrying a cargo of sulfuric acid, had a crew of 15 Baltic and Filipino members on board. At the time of the incident, the vessel was anchored off Storesand, south of the Oslo Fjord entrance, with coordinates 59.0123 N, 10.9796 E. Witnesses reported a significant amount of smoke emanating from the tanker after a loud explosion. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and all crew members were promptly accounted for. Initial response efforts took about 20 to 30 minutes to deploy, with the lifeboat 'Ragnar Stoud Platou' from Redningsselskapet station Halver being the first on scene. The crew aboard the tanker was actively working with foam to control the situation. The emergency response included a robust fleet comprised of two police boats, a fire boat, a Norwegian Coast Guard RIB, three Swedish lifeboats, and a rescue helicopter from Norway's 330 Squadron, which facilitated the hoisting of firefighters onto the vessel. Throughout the operation, six RITS members were brought onto the tanker, while additional personnel were transported to the scene via the lifeboat 'Stormbull' from Stavern. The HRS was tasked with coordinating the entire rescue operation. By 4:18 p.m., firefighters had the blaze under control, with the fire finally extinguished by 5:22 p.m. The crew worked diligently alongside shore-based emergency services to cool the affected area and ensure the situation was stable, all within the framework set forth by Norwegian authorities. Impressively, there were no reports of hazardous substance leakage. After receiving clearance from Norwegian authorities, the 'Bergstraum' weighed anchor just before 9 p.m. and made its way to port, arriving at Frederikstad by 10:30 p.m. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, with ownership group Utkilen Shipping AS launching an internal review into the incident. For further coverage, including photos and videos, please refer to the following sources: - [VG](https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/wr99lL/melding-om-mulig-eksplosjonsartet-brann-i-oestfold) - [NRK](https://www.nrk.no/ostfold/tankskip-pa-grunn-ved-hvaler_-eksplosjonsartet-brann-om-bord-1.17971727) - [TV2](https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/brann-om-bord-pa-tankskip-slukket/19084193/) - [Nettavisen](https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/eksplosjon-om-bord-pa-120-meter-langt-tankskip-utenfor-skjarhalden/s/5-95-3169884) - [Op.no](https://www.op.no/eksplosjon-og-brann-i-tankskip-brannmenn-i-larvik-rykket-ut/s/5-36-1962231) - [Twitter](https://x.com/NSSR/status/2082128183466303949) - [Twitter](https://x.com/NSSR/status/2082145145244320077) - [NRK](https://www.nrk.no/ostfold/tankskip-brant-ved-hvaler_-eksplosjonsartet-brann-om-bord-1.17971727)

On June 17, 2017, an incident onboard the Norwegian-flagged oil and chemical tanker, 'Bergstraum', led to a crew member being airlifted to the hospital with a suspected broken leg. The accident took place while the vessel was docked at the Tivoli docks, east of Cork city, at approximately 7 p.m. The injured crew member was swiftly rescued by the crew of the Waterford-based Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 117, who winched him from the ship's bow. Reports indicate that the unfortunate injury occurred when a cable or rope snapped, striking his leg as he performed his duties on the vessel. Emergency responders, including members of the Cork City Fire Brigade and Crosshaven Coast Guard, promptly arrived at the scene. However, due to safety concerns, the fire service was unable to extricate the injured crew member from the ship without risk.

On April 24, 2017, at 09:43, the chemical tanker 'Bergstraum' experienced a harrowing near-miss incident involving the Spijkenisse Bridge in Moerdijk. As the ship was navigating from Dordrecht, a malfunction in the bridge's moving section prevented it from opening in time, leading to an emergency stop just meters away from a potential collision. In a swift maneuver, the crew executed a hard astern, narrowly avoiding disaster. Adding to the urgency, a dredger positioned on the Hoogvliet side had to be promptly relocated to avoid being struck. Initially, the Spijkenisse Bridge was unable to operate as intended, but with manual intervention, it was eventually reset and successfully tested. The bridge was scheduled to rise to accommodate a significant volume of shipping traffic, but crucially failed to perform at a decisive moment. Questions lingered over whether the captain had received the green light to proceed or if human error played a role in the incident. Consequently, Rijkswaterstaat has initiated an investigation to determine both the sequence of events and the underlying reasons for the bridge's failure. Once the Spijkenisse Bridge reopened around noon, the 'Bergstraum' continued its journey towards the North Sea, bound for Alesund, with an estimated arrival date of April 26. Additional Dutch media outlets have covered the event, complete with photos and videos, providing further insight into this close call.