Report on marine accident - foundering of M/V Østbanken in Østhavet outside Båtsfjord on 9 January 2015
Marine report 2016/05 eng
The longliner 'Østbanken' (LHWI, F 47 TN) foundered approximately 60 nautical miles north of Berlevåg at 03:30 on Friday 9 January 2015. The vessel foundered under dramatic circumstances and in rough weather. The crew notified Vardø Radio of the difficulties they were in. The five crew members were able to evacuate to one of the vessel's life rafts and were picked up by a rescue helicopter a little more than two hours after the vessel sank.
The AIBN’s investigation of the accident shows that there were a number of factors that contributed to the accident. The two decisive factors were that the vessel listed to starboard for a relatively long period with an open hauling hatch and that a lot of water therefore accumulated on deck. At the same time, the vessel’s cargo hatch was also open, so that the water on deck was able to enter the hold.
The investigation has identified the following learning points for fishing crew in general and for users of similar vessel types in particular, as well as two areas for improvement by the authorities:
The AIBN would like to stress the importance of those responsible on board similar vessels ensuring that the hauling hatch can be closed quickly under all conditions, and that the vessel’s weathertight integrity is maintained in the best possible way at all times. In the AIBN’s opinion, there is also room for improvements on the part of the authorities whose role it is to ensure that vessels with open shelter decks are rigged so that the hauling hatch can be closed quickly enough under all conditions. A safety recommendation is submitted to the NMA in this connection.
The crew were not fully aware of the limitations that applied to the vessel in terms of how much cargo it could carry. The AIBN emphasises the importance of those responsible on board being fully aware of the operational limitations that apply to their own vessel. In the AIBN’s opinion, there is also a potential for improving the role of the authorities in ensuring that relevant safety-critical information is not lost when a fishing vessel changes owners. A safety recommendation is submitted to the NMA in this connection.
The crew on board had conducted drills and prepared for situations in which they might have to evacuate the vessel. This probably helped them to act rationally in the situation they found themselves in and thus saved their lives.
One crew member was unable to retrieve his immersion suit before he left the vessel. The AIBN would therefore point out how important it is that those on board give careful consideration to where it is most expedient to keep immersion suits on board each vessel.
Safety recommendation
Safety Recommendation MARINE No 2016/04T
One of several factors that contributed to the longliner Østbanken foundering in the Barents Sea in the early hours of 9 January 2015 was that there was more cargo on board than permitted by the vessel’s approvals. The owners had bought and used a vessel believing that its loading capacity was greater than it actually was. The reasons for this were the size of the hold and the fact that documentation of the limitations on the loading capacity was not readily accessible. The AIBN believes that there is a potential for improving the mechanisms that are intended to ensure the transfer of all information that is critical to safe operations between vessel owners when a vessel changes owner.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Maritime Authority, in cooperation with the fisheries organisations, consider mechanisms that ensure that safety-critical information is not lost when fishing vessels change owners.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2016/05T
When the longliner Østbanken foundered in the Barents Sea in the early hours of 9 January 2015, the relatively long period during which the crew were unable to close the vessel’s hauling hatch was a critical factor. It is uncertain whether the Norwegian Maritime Authority, when approving the arrangements on Østbanken, specified that the hatches should be operable at all times without any need for preparations and set as a requirement that it should be possible to close them in the course of 15 seconds. Subsequent inspections have not identified any weaknesses relating to the arrangement on board. The AIBN is therefore uncertain as to whether the Norwegian Maritime Authority’s regulations and supervision of ‘open shelterdeckers’ adequately ensure that these preconditions for safe operations are in place.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Maritime Authority consider whether the current regulations and inspections/surveys adequately ensure that vessels with open shelter decks are rigged so that the hauling hatch can be closed quickly enough should a critical situation arise.
Facts
| Location | Barents Sea |
| Occurrence date | 09.01.2015 |
| Accident category | Foundering |
| Area | Norwegian Economic Zone |
| Name of vessel | Østbanken |
| Vessel type | Fishing Vessel |
| Register | The Norwegian Fishing Vessel Register |