Sjøfareren (meaning The Sea Farer) was built at the Smedvik Mekaniske Verksted A/S in Tjørvåg and launched in 1968.
It is speculated that it was the increased radiation from the radar that caused it, similar to the later HNoMS Kvikk.
During the period, Sjøfareren operated in the waters between Svalbard and Jan Mayen, which has led to speculations that it was used as a spy ship to gather intelligence of Soviet Navy movements.
In the late 1980s, Sjøfareren was leased and repainted for use by the Norwegian Coast Guard as a fishery inspection vessel.
It was only in April 2002 that she again was painted in the traditional colours of the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue.