NAUTILUS ALDRA

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Course/Position

Latest news

Nautilus Aldra located wreck from WW II

On April 27, 2021, a ROV deployed from the 'Nautilus Aldra' managed to locate the Hurtigruten ship 'Nord Norge' which sank on May 10, 1940, off Hemnesberget after a dramatic skirmish with the British Navy. The wreck has finally been localised and filmed at a depth of 280 metres off the coast of Hemnes about 200 meters from the quayside by the diving company Seløy Undervannsservice, teaming up with local divers. The 'Nord-Norge' was built in 1924, and was refurbished and put into traffic along a coastal route by Hurtigruten in 1936. On May 8, 1940, she sailed out of the Trondheim Fjord with 300 Austrian alpine hunters and marines on board. The ship was hijacked by the Nazis, and was to be used as a Trojan horse in the attack on Trondheim. The operation was approved by Hitler himself and was code-named “Operation Wild Duck”. However, as it approached Hemnesberget, it was attacked by Scottish troops. Fierce fighting ensued, with heavy casualties on both sides. After several shots from the destroyer HMS 'Zulu' and the light cruiser HMS 'Calcutta', the 'Nord-Norge' sank stern first, taking parts of the quay with it. The sunken ship has animated locals for decades. Local divers have been searching for it for years, but without success.

Ferry fouled by rope

On Mar 31, 2014, the "Aldra" was slowed down by ropes entangled in the propeller. A diver was summoned to remove the obstruction while the ferry was in the dock in Hemnes. A 10 mm thick ropes of 8-10 meters had had coiled itself around the propeller shaft and the blades. Norwegian report with photos: http://www.lokalavisa.no/artikkel.php?aid=57873