A heavylift cargo ship was left abandoned and drifting in the Norwegian Sea on Monday night after its crew were airlifted to safety as it took on a severe list.

The 4,200-dwt, Amasus Shipping-owned Eemslift Hendrika (built 2015) issued a distress signal on Monday morning when it was about 60 nautical miles (111 km) west of Alesund, south-western Norway.

It was on a voyage from the German port of Bremerhaven to Kolvereid in Norway when it developed a 15-degree list after its cargo shifted.