Norway won’t repair frigate that sank after collision

Helge Instad on dry dock

Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen says that the Government has decided it is more appropriate to dispose of the frigate KNM Helge Ingstad, rather than to repair it.

The frigate sank following a November 8, 2018, collision with the tanker Sola TS. Subsequently investigators from Accident Investigation Board Norway identified safety-critical issues related to the frigate’s watertight compartments that, it said, raised doubts about Norway’s four other Nansen-class frigates and other vessels based on Spanish shipbuilder Navantia’s F100 design (see earlier story).

Now a condition report from Norway’s Defense Materials department shows that it would cost shows that it would cost about $1.4 billion to $1.65 billion to repair the vessel. By comparison, it would cost about $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion to build a new similar vessel.

“Good control at sea is absolutely essential in the defense of the country,” said Defense Minister Bakke-Jensen, “Therefore, we have been clear all the way that the capacity represented by KNM Helge Ingstad must be re-established. I want to ask the Chief of Defense about a specialist military advice on how the operational capacity can be replaced.”