According to media reports, one of the largest working ships in the world, the "Saipem 7000", was badly damaged in an emergency off the Norwegian coast.
The ship, whose two cranes can each lift 7,000 tons, has a list, the newspaper "VG" and Norwegian radio reported on Thursday.
At the time of the incident, 275 people were on board near the western Norwegian city of Stavanger.
They could have been rescued unharmed.
The police said a crane ship had to be moored in Byfjord.
A steel wire was probably worn out.
Then a loud bang was heard.
A barge connected to the boat is about to sink.
The situation is stable.
Divers, lifeboats and helicopters were deployed.
The "Saipem 7000" belongs to the Italian offshore service provider Saipem and has been used for work on the open sea since 1987, for example when installing wind turbines.