Report on very serious occupational accident, on the fishing vessel Øyværing east of Kabelvåg on 1. March 2024
Marine report 2025/01
The accident most likely happened when the single-handed fisherman on board the fishing vessel Øyværing was in the process of setting the third chain of gillnets. At one point the fisherman fell overboard. The vessel continued on autopilot and ran aground on the north side of Kreta island off Kabelvåg. People on shore observed the vessel and notified the emergency services, and a search was initiated. The fisherman was later found in the area where the fisherman's third chain of gillnets had been set and died as a result of the accident.
A large proportion of the accidents investigated by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) involving single-handed fishermen have shown that fishermen have fallen overboard in connection with the operation of equipment. The main challenge is the conditions that entail that a single-handed fisherman must be physically located close to the equipment in an exposed position during parts of the setting and hauling process. For smaller fishing vessels with one person on board, it is therefore challenging to identify good measures that can eliminate this hazard completely.
When the fisherman fell overboard, no one immediately noticed that he was in distress.
A review of previous accidents involving single-handed fishermen investigated by the NSIA has shown that very few single-handed fishermen used flotation clothing. The NSIA is of the view that measures to reduce the consequences of an accident, such as a personal warning device, flotation aid, electronic emergency stop and ladders, individually or in combination, could increase the likelihood of saving lives in accidents where a single-handed fisherman falls overboard.
The action plan drawn up by the Norwegian Maritime Authority in connection with its vision zero work proposes several measures that apply to smaller fishing vessels. Some of these measures are particularly relevant to the accident involving Øyværing. The NSIA does not therefore submit any recommendations following its investigation of this accident and highlights the importance of following up on the vision zero action plan.
Published 29.01.2025
Facts
| Location | East of Kabelvåg in the northern part of Norway |
| Occurrence date | 01.03.2024 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | Øyværing |
| Accident type | Fatal Accident, Fall over board, Grounding, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Fishing Vessel |
| Register | The Norwegian Ship Register |