Report on very serious occupational accident on board vessel Multi Vision, outside the island Frøya on 1 January 2022
Marine report 2022/05
As the vessel was mooring to a aqua culture cage, a crew member fell into the water and was squeezed between the side of the ship and the cage ring. Life-saving first aid was attempted, but the man was declared dead shortly afterwards. Arrival and mooring were considered routine jobs, and the risk of falling into the water was thus normalised. As a result, there was insufficient awareness about the risks that the operation entailed, both in the onshore organisation and among the crew on board the vessel. It is important that risk assessments are carried out for all tasks that could entail a risk and that risk reduction measures are implemented into procedures and work operations. The NSIA has identified non-conformities between the applicable procedures and the performance of the work that resulted in the risk reduction measures described not contributing to improving safety. Successful implementation also requires those who carry out the work to be involved in risk assessments and in the preparation of procedures. In order to improve safety through loyalty to procedures and a focus on safety, culture carriers and people in positions of authority must set the standard and set a good example by following up the procedures put in place.
On 1 January 2022, the service vessel Multi Vision was engaged in the assignment of dismantling and removing the delousing system from a fish farm at Ruggstein off the island of Frøya in Trøndelag county. The assignment had been going on for three days, and the vessel had moved between different sea cages at the facility. They were due to complete the job after the next move.
The incident happened when the vessel was in the process of mooring while moving slowly sideways towards a cage. Two crew members were standing on the aft deck at the top of a set of steps, ready to go down and step over to the cage ring to moor the vessel. When the vessel was 1–1.5 metres away from the cage, an able seaman slipped down the steps and fell into the water. The mate was quickly notified and used the thruster to move the vessel away from the cage ring, but the distance was too small for him to be able to prevent the able seaman being crushed between the side of the vessel and the cage ring. Resuscitation attempts were made, but the able seaman died from crush injuries.
The design of the gate in the ship’s side and the hinged hatch in the deck that covered the steps was such that the crew found it expedient to keep it open during work operations and while moving between sea cages. There was thus no physical barrier in place to prevent people from falling into the sea.
Safe areas/distances had been defined on deck for various work operations, but no safe distance around the steps had been defined for arrival and mooring. Greater distance would have prevented the able seaman from slipping into the water. Physical markings could have contributed to a safe distance being observed.
After the accident, the Norwegian Maritime Authority instructed the shipping company FSV Group to carry out risk assessments and revise its procedures for entering cages when arriving at a fish farm.
The company has implemented several measures to improve safety since the accident.
Published 13.06.2022
Facts
| Location | Outside the Island Frøya |
| Occurrence date | 01.01.2022 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| IMO number | 9923669 |
| Name of vessel | Multi Vision |
| Accident type | Fatal Accident, Fall over board, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Bulk Cargo Ship |
| Register | The Norwegian Ship Register |