Report 2015/01
Marine report 2015/01
One person perished on board the workboat Stålbjørn during maintenance work on the mooring lines of a fish farm outside Hitra on 31 July 2013. The deceased was hit by a mooring line in the upper body and was thrown backwards. He later died from the injuries. The skipper's legs were struck by the line but he only suffered from minor injuries.
The danger of the mooring line slipping over the guide pin had not been identified by the company. The AIBN finds that the company’s work procedures and risk assessments were of little support to the crew. A more thorough risk assessment could have revealed the need for stronger safety barriers. After the accident, the company has carried out an extensive mapping of risks which has resulted in the implementation of a number of measures to improve the safety of the workboat personnel. The accident investigation board has therefore decided not to issue a safety recommendation to this effect.
The investigation has revealed that the company did not have proper insight into the crew members training and competence. The company’s training system did not ensure that the crew members had the necessary competence to carry out their work in a safe manner. The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that SalMar strengthen their training system in order to ensure that workboat crew members are properly trained and competent to carry out their work in a safe manner.
Further, the investigation has found that there has been little legal regulation of the design, approval, construction, inspection and operation of workboats of less than 15 m length. However, a new legal regulation of the construction and inspection of small cargo vessels came into force 1 January 2015. The regulation addresses several of the contributing factors to this accident. The AIBN has therefore decided not to issue a safety recommendation to this effect.
Safety recommendation
Safety Recommendation MARINE No 2015/01T
A fatal occupational accident occurred on board the workboat Stålbjørn on 31 July 2013 as a mooring line slipped over the guide pin striking both crew members. The investigation found that the company did not have proper insight into the crew members training and competencies. The company’s training system did not ensure that the crew members had the necessary competencies to carry out their work in a safe manner.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that SalMar strengthen their training system in order to ensure that workboat crew members are properly trained and competent to carry out their work in a safe manner.
Facts
| Location | Hitra i Sør-Trøndelag |
| Occurrence date | 31.07.2013 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | Stålbjørn |
| Accident type | Fatal Accident, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Misc. Ship |
| Register | The Norwegian Ship Register |