Report on marine accident with Svendsen Senior LM8085, fall over board, Kvænangen in Troms on 23 April 2014
Marine report 2016/02
During the night leading up to 23 April 2014 a fisherman fell overboard from the fishing vessel Svendsen Senior and was the same morning found dead in the sea. There were no witnesses to the accident and thus the AIBN can not determine the exact sequence of events. Factors that could have contributed are the weather conditions, the influence of alcohol and the lack of life jacket or any other buoyancy clothing.
There were two men on board the fishing vessel en route from Tromsø to Honningsvåg. When the skipper came into the wheelhouse at approximately 04:00, the other fisherman had disappeared. A search and rescue operation was launched and the fisherman was found dead in the sea later that same morning.
The fisherman probably died by drowning, and his blood alcohol content was found to be high. He was not wearing a life jacket or any other buoyancy clothing when he was found. There were snow showers in the area at the time and the sea was cold. In the AIBN's opinion, his chances of survival were therefore very limited. The AIBN is also of the opinion that the risk of falling overboard was increased under the influence of alcohol. The weather and wind conditions can also have made safe movement on board the vessel more difficult. In the absence of witnesses and other evidence, it is not possible, however, to determine the sequence of events and the causal factors.
The AIBN issues a reminder that alcohol consumption is not compatible with work at sea, and makes reference to safety measures for fishermen proposed in previous reports: for example, wireless emergency stop device, safety line and approved buoyancy clothing.
The AIBN does not propose any safety recommendations as a result of this investigation.
This report is in Norwegian only.
Facts
| Location | Kvænangen in northern Norway |
| Occurrence date | 23.04.2014 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | Svendsen Senior |
| Accident type | Fall over board, Fatal Accident, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Fishing Vessel |