Normand Ranger begins towing SpaceX Starship from Indian Ocean to Australia

The Norwegian offshore supply ship Normand Ranger changed its AIS navigational status to 'Restricted Manoeuvrability' on August 3 and began towing the SpaceX Starship S40 through the Indian Ocean toward Dampier, Western Australia. The ship was moving at roughly 1 knot. At that point, it was 852 nautical miles from Dampier.

S40 splashed down in the Indian Ocean on July 24, 2026, roughly 65 minutes into Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas. The vehicle stayed intact and did not sink. It drifted for over a week. On July 28, SpaceX confirmed it would attempt recovery.

The recovery fleet included Normand Ranger, GO Australis, and a second tug, Skimmer Tide. Satellite imagery published by CNN on August 3 showed the three ships together near S40.

Maritime analyst Sal Mercogliano estimated the tow to Dampier would take close to 12 days at 3 knots.

For context on following specialist vessels at sea, read about identifying ship types, offshore satellite AIS tracking, and examining vessel route history.