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VÆDDEREN obliged to go into dock

Dato 11.8.2006

The Danish Research Expedition, which follows in the tradition of its famous forerunner of 1952, sailed on Friday 11 August. However VÆDDEREN was obliged to call at a Norwegian shipyard for work on the propeller system that has been a cause of concern.

Following pre-departure checks, it was found that the ship’s propeller system was faulty and despite the work of naval experts and the company which supplied the system, the need to establish full operative capability meant further work before the world circumnavigation is undertaken.

Originally the frigate was to put in at Kockum’s shipyard in Karlskrona, but the Rosenberg shipyard in Stavanger, Norway was seen as a more viable choice, with work starting on Monday 14 August to solve the problem.

Captain Carsten Schmidt was sorry for the detour and said

“I deeply regret that we have been affected by this delay. The crew has worked extremely hard to make VÆDDEREN ready for departure, so naturally it is disappointing that this has happened.

We will work to ensure that the effects of the delay are minimised. We have to remind ourselves that it is far better this sort of thing happens here rather than at sea, where it could be a matter of several thousand miles to the nearest shipyard”.

The Norwegian shipyard is closer to the scheduled route with its first stop in the Faeroes. Research experiments can begin en route from Copenhagen to Stavanger.

Contacts:

Technical questions:

Bent Hansen – Admiral Danish Fleet, + 45 7257 3010 or + 45 2541 5219.

Expedition generally:

Jens Claus Hansen – The Danish Expedition Foundation + 45 2462 6218.