The tanker AIDAnova, as part of a week-long journey from Kiel, Germany to Norway, witnessed a rescue operation on the evening of Sunday, October 18, 2026. This cruise ship, which has a capacity of over 5,200 passengers, was alerted to reports of smoke and fire from a nearby fishing boat while passing through the waters of Skagerrak between Norway and Denmark.
Beginning of the rescue operation
The Southern Norway rescue force immediately dispatched a helicopter to the scene and requested other vessels in the area to participate in the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the passenger ship AIDAnova, weighing 183,858 tons, approached the incident site and launched a fast boat to assist the burning fishing boat. Passengers on the ship began recording and sharing videos and images of the burning fishing boat.
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Rescue of four people
Upon the arrival of the rescue team, four people from the fishing boat were in a lifeboat, as they had abandoned their vessel before the AIDAnova arrived. Danish authorities also placed a helicopter on standby to assist if needed. The fishing boat, whose name has not been officially disclosed, is registered in Denmark.
After the rescue, the four individuals were transferred to the AIDAnova, and it was reported that none of them were injured. The tanker AIDAnova continued its journey towards Norway after the rescue operation, heading to its destinations in Bergen, Geiranger, Ålesund, and Stavanger.
Information about the cause of the fire on the fishing boat has not yet been released, and investigations to examine the details of this incident are ongoing.
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