A fire on a Norwegian chemical tanker was put out on Monday after an explosion led to a major emergency response off the southeast coast of Norway. All 15 crew members are safe, and there were no injuries or pollution reported.
According to ship manager Utkilen AS, the incident took place on July 28 aboard the 9,500-dwt chemical tanker Bergstraum while the ship was anchored near Fredrikstad.
"On July 28, 2026, M/T Bergstraum experienced a small fire onboard, which has now been extinguished," the company mentioned in a statement. "There have been no reported personal injuries."
Norway's volunteer sea rescue organization, Redningsselskapet, received alerts about the explosion and fire on the vessel near Skjærhalden, which prompted a multi-agency response.
The rescue vessel RS Ragnar Stoud Platou quickly arrived at the scene, while RS Stormbull sent firefighters to the tanker. The initial response also included two police boats, a fireboat, a Norwegian Coast Guard RIB, three Swedish rescue boats, and a rescue helicopter from Norway's 330 Squadron, which lifted firefighters onto the ship.
The fire was brought under control, and officials confirmed that all 15 crew members were safely accounted for. No pollution or cargo leaks have been reported.
Redningsselskapet stated, "Good preparedness and close cooperation among emergency services and across borders are essential during serious incidents at sea."
Utkilen indicated that its crew and shore-based emergency team are working to fully stabilize the situation in collaboration with Norwegian authorities.
"Our main priorities are the safety of all personnel onboard, protecting the vessel and the surrounding environment, and ensuring that all necessary response actions are taken in close coordination with the authorities," the company said.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation. Utkilen plans to carry out an internal investigation and will share more information as it becomes available.
Built in 1996, Bergstraum is a double-hulled chemical tanker registered in the Norwegian International Ship Register and classified by DNV. It is managed commercially and technically by Bergen-based Utkilen AS and is owned by its subsidiary, Utkilen Shipping AS. The crew consists of 15 seafarers from the Baltic and the Philippines.