Marshall Islands-Flagged Bulker Pluto Adrift off Norwegian Coast After Engine Failure, Crew Evacuated

The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Pluto is adrift north of Trondheim, Norway, following a complete engine failure that prompted the evacuation of all crew on Tuesday. The vessel was transiting from Murmansk, Russia, to Colombia with a cargo of fertilizer.

Pluto suffered a total loss of propulsion in adverse weather conditions, prompting the crew to request evacuation. All 23 Filipino crew members were airlifted by helicopter to Værnes airport on Tuesday. Norwegian police conducted passport control of all personnel on arrival, according to Trøndelag Police District operations manager Stian Aalberg.

The vessel remains unmanned and adrift north of Trondheim. Norway's Coastal Administration (Kystverket) confirmed the Norwegian Vessel Traffic Service is monitoring the ship's drift direction. "It looks calm and manageable for now, but there is considerable wind," communications director Anette Bonnevie Wollebæk told Norwegian media.

According to ShipAtlas tracking data, Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Jarl (W 324) appears to be heading toward the scene. KV Jarl is a former anchor handling tug supply vessel, measuring 91 metres LOA with a bollard pull of approximately 270–275 tonnes, well above the 100-tonne threshold required for state emergency towing readiness. The vessel has been operated by the Coast Guard since January 2020 and is equipped with diving capability and an underwater drone. KV Jarl regularly performs towing standby, fisheries inspection, and pollution response duties along the Norwegian coast. (Special ties to this vessel as I served on it back in 2020:))

The cargo of fertilizer has not been classified as environmentally hazardous by Kystverket. No pollution has been reported.

Salvage responsibility rests with the shipowner under international convention. "It is the shipping company that is responsible for salvaging its own vessel in accordance with international agreements," Wollebæk said. Kystverket will continue monitoring the vessel until the owner initiates salvage operations.

Investigation into the cause of the engine failure is ongoing.