Report on marine accident with fishing vessel Knut Gynther LF4197, capsizing south of Hamnøya in Vevelstad, Nordland, 22. February 2014

On the morning of February 22 2014, the fisherman went to sea with his Nor Dan 32 smack to haul nets in Velfjorden north of Brønnøysund. Upon departure, the weather was good, but during the day, the wind increased. When he did not show up for an appointment the day after, and did not answer either phone or VHF, the JRCC initiated a search- and rescue operation. The fisherman was found dead later the same evening, and later on his smack was found capsized.

The smack had capsized and the net was lying over the winch, which confirmed that the fisherman had started the hauling process. The net remaining in the sea was stuck to the seabed. Due to uncertainties regarding the course of events, the assessment of possible causes of the capsizing is based on studies of the impact of different conditions on the smack’s rest stability at the time of the accident. An inclining test was conducted, and stability calculations for various conditions were prepared. Although the minimum requirements were not met at the time of the accident, the GZ-curve indicated only minor reductions of stability at small heeling angles. However, at larger heeling angles there was a significant impairment of the required stability. Therefore, it is not likely that the vessel would have capsized without a significant influence of an external force or a combination of multiple forces. The AIBN assumes that tension on the winch combined with vessel movements caused by wind and sea are the most likely combination of forces that led to the capsizing.

The AIBN are not issuing any new safety recommendations in connection with this accident.

This report is in Norwegian only.