The executives of Icelandic transport company Eimskip, whose vessel Godafoss ran aground in the Oslo fjord near Fredrikstad in northeast Norway last week, are critical of Norwegian police authorities, saying they leaked information on the accident.

An Eimskip container vessel. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.

Allegedly, the police informed the media of statements that the captain of Godafoss had made during questioning, Fréttabladid reports.

It has now been confirmed that the pilot boat left Godafoss a long time before the vessel had sailed past the hazardous skerries in the fjord. This mistake is the main reason for the accident, claimed CEO of Eimskip Gylfi Sigfússon.

Godafoss will be towed away from the location where it ran aground tomorrow. It is estimated that a 50-meter strip on the ship’s bottom is damaged.

No oil is leaking from the ship anymore and the pollution caused by the oil spill is less serious than originally feared, although some birds had to be put down because of the oil in their feathers. The spill is now being cleaned with all means possible.