A Coast Guard helicopter was also put on standby, and additional vessels were called to assist in the rescue operation.
An Icelandic Marine Research Institute’s vessel, the Bjarni Sæmundsson, ran aground in Tálknafjörður at 10pm local time on Thursday evening, according to Icelandic broadcaster RUV.
The area has been in the news recently following a salmon escape from Mowi-owned Arctic Fish’s site in nearby Patreksfjordur.
The ship was subsequently towed to safety and docked at a pier in Tálknafjörður just before midnight.
Read more: Farmed salmon caught in rivers across northwest Iceland following escape last month
Rescue boats from the Landsbjargar Accident Prevention Association were quickly dispatched to the scene. The Coast Guard’s helicopter was also put on standby, and additional vessels were called to assist in the rescue operation. The ship was eventually towed by the vessel Verdi from Patreksfjörður.
It is currently unclear whether the research vessel incurred any damage during the incident. “A detailed underwater survey is being conducted to assess the ship’s condition. The results will be made available once the survey is completed,” a representative from the Icelandic Marine Research Institute said.
The Bjarni Sæmundsson is part of the Icelandic Marine Research Institute’s fleet and is generally used for various marine research activities, including oceanographic and biological studies.
The incident has not disrupted any ongoing research activities, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the grounding.
