Oslo - Twelve crew members were rescued Monday from a Russian freezer ship off Bear Island, the southernmost island in the Svalbard archipelago, local media reported.

The crew sounded the alert early Monday after the vessel ran aground in poor weather.

A rescue helicopter flew them to a weather station on Bear Island, the northern Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said.

Norwegian coast guards were heading to the stricken vessel to check that it was not leaking fuel since Bear Island and the waters near it are home to large colonies of sea birds. (dpa)