Frigate, oil tanker collide off western Norway, injuring 7

 Frigate oil tanker collide off Norway

OSLO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Norwegian navy frigate collided with an oil tanker off Norway's western coast early Thursday morning, injuring seven people, local media reported.

There were 137 people aboard the KNM Helge Ingstad frigate and 23 others on the Sola TS tanker when the collision occurred outside the Sture Terminal, an oil terminal 50 km northwest of Bergen, Norway, according to VG newspaper.

The frigate was taking a lot of water and seven of its crew were injured, police told the newspaper, adding that everyone aboard the vessels has already been evacuated.

The Malta-registered Sola TS tanker sustained only slight damage, Aftenposten newspaper reported.

The Sture Terminal was closed after the collision, the report said.

Public broadcaster NRK quoted the fire department as saying that the KNM Helge Ingstad frigate "is no longer at risk of sinking."

The frigate was on its way home to the Haakonsvern base of the Royal Norwegian Navy on the western coast after taking part in NATO's Trident Juncture 2018 military exercise, which took place from Oct. 25 to Nov. 7 in Norway.