Report on marine accident - RIB, fall over board in Olden 22 July 2015
Marine report 2017/06 eng
Three persons fell overboard from a RIB that was on a sightseeing tour with tourists from a visiting cruise ship, docked in Olden. Two were rescued, one person died. The company had operated RIB trips since 2008, without the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) ever having inspected the company prior to the accident. However, there are no requirements for approval or inspection in order to be able to start up or run such a company. Furthermore, no overview exists of this group of vessels or the companies involved, which is a prerequisite for exercising purposeful and effective supervision. The AIBN recommends that the NMA should obtain an overview of the whole group of vessels and implement measures to control that the operators are operating in accordance with applicable regulations. The seafarers’ doctor was not fully informed about the skipper’s state of health and medication despite both his general practitioner (GP) and specialist having information about these matters. The AIBN believes that the Health Personnel Act should be amended so that seafarers are also covered by the duty of notification. The AIBN submits a total of four safety recommendations as a result of this investigation.
A local rental RIB had taken 9 passengers onboard from a visiting cruiseship, docked in Olden, in order to make a 45 minutes sightseeing trip.
The accident happened as a result of the RIB hooking when the skipper turned the boat into the waves left by a tender. This caused the RIB to right itself abruptly after heeling sharply and subjected those on board to a strong sideways force.
Two passengers fell into the water because they were not prepared for the abrupt movement and were not holding on tightly enough when the boat hooked. The skipper also fell into the sea as a result of the violent movement. It is possible that he attempted to grab hold of the passenger on his starboard side, who was the first to fall overboard.
The skipper had problems staying afloat and holding his head above water after just a few minutes. He soon lost consciousness and died as a result of drowning.
The company has revised its safety management system since the accident and the NMA has reviewed it, without comment. The AIBN considers that the system still has room for improvement. This particularly applies to adapting the system to the company and its activities.
The NMA’s safety work and supervision of the RIB industry does not contribute sufficiently to ensuring the safety of those on board.
It cannot be excluded that the skipper’s state of health and medication may have contributed to him having reduced capability to understand and assess the situation, make good decisions and manoeuvre the vessel safely.
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2017/02T
The investigation into the RIB accident in Olden on 22 July 2015 has shown that the operating company’s safety management system was inadequate in some areas and could have been better implemented. The company has revised its safety management system since the accident and the NMA has reviewed it, without comment. The AIBN considers that the system still has room for improvement.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that Briksdal Adventure AS review its safety management system, with the focus on preparing and implementing good safety procedures adapted to the company and its activities.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2017/03T
The investigation of the RIB accident in Olden on 22 July 2015 has shown that there is no register or overview of RIBs that carry 12 or fewer passengers, or of the companies that operate them. The AIBN believes that the authorities need to obtain such an overview in order to gain a full understanding of the industry and its scope, and to conduct effective and purposeful safety work.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the NMA take necessary steps to obtain an overview of RIBs that carry 12 or fewer passengers in commercial operation and the companies that operate them.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2017/04T
The investigation into the RIB accident in Olden on 22 July 2015 found several operational and physical deficiencies and nonconformities, and also that the operating company’s safety management system was inadequate in some areas and could have been better implemented. Based on these findings, the AIBN shares the concern expressed by the NMA as early as in 2012, after an investigation of the RIB industry in 2011. The AIBN considers that it is necessary for the authorities to intensify the safety work directed at this group of vessels.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the NMA implement further measures to control that the operators of RIBs carrying 12 or fewer passengers are operating in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Safety recommendation MARINE No. 2017/05T
The investigation showed that the skipper’s state of health and medication may have contributed to the sequence of events in the RIB accident in Olden on 22 July 2015. The skipper’s state of health had changed during the period since his previous medical certificate had been issued and the seafarers’ doctor had not been notified of this. Both the GP and the specialist had information about the skipper’s state of health. However, the Health Personnel Act does not permit medical staff to inform the seafarer’s doctor that a seafarer no longer satisfies the medical requirements.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD), as part of its consideration of amendments to Section 34 of the Health Personnel Act should include a proposal that employees on board ships, who are required to have medical certificates, should be covered by the duty of notification in Section 34.
Facts
| Location | Olden, Stryn municipality |
| Occurrence date | 22.07.2015 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | RIB |
| Accident type | Fall over board, Fatal Accident |
| Vessel type | Misc. Ship |