Report on marine accident involving a rental vessel north-east of Kråkenes Lighthouse in Vestland County, 4 May 2025
Marine report 2026/03
On Sunday morning 4 May, three tourist anglers were fishing in a rental vessel of type Dolmøy 230 Fisker to fish in Sildegapet north‑east of Kråkenes Lighthouse when the vessel capsized. The investigation has shown that the most probable cause of the capsize was gradual flooding of the vessel in combination with the prevailing wind and sea conditions. Water most likely entered through the drain openings and over a recessed step‑through on the starboard side of the aft deck. From there, water progressed into the hold via a non‑watertight hatch that lacked seals and a functioning locking mechanism. From the hold, water could then enter voids within the stiffeners and spaces between the inner liner and the outer hull. All three persons on board died as a result of the accident.
The tourist anglers were unable to issue a distress alert, and approximately eight hours elapsed from the time the vessel capsized until the first angler was found. With no means of alerting on board other than mobile phones, they were unable to notify others that they were in distress. The NSIA is of the opinion that the anglers would have had a greater probability of survival had an Emergency Position‑Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) been carried on board, or if they had used a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
There are no statutory requirements for lifesaving appliances for this vessel category beyond the mandatory use of lifejackets, and the regulatory framework governing consumer services and the rental of recreational craft is administered by the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB). The NSIA considers that a dedicated regulatory framework should be developed for rental enterprises and rental vessels, including requirements for tracking and alerting systems, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority as the supervisory authority.
In at least three cases, the Dolmøy 230 Fisker series has been involved in serious incidents involving flooding followed by capsize. In the two previous cases, users experienced flooding of the hold via a non‑watertight flush hatch prior to capsize. A previous investigation conducted by the NSIA into Viking 7 (Report Marine 2016/10), a similar Dolmøy vessel, showed that the boat type did not comply with relevant ISO standards and was vulnerable to water ingress via drain openings and the aft step‑through on the starboard side.
The present investigation has shown that the accident vessel had the same vulnerabilities as those identified in the Viking 7 accident, and vessel models with these weaknesses therefore constitute a hazard.The investigation has shown that the modifications required by the Norwegian Maritime Authority following the Viking 7 accident, which the manufacturer confirmed had been implemented on the 2015 and 2016 models, had not been carried out as intended. This means that several vessels with the same vulnerabilities remain in operation, and a similar accident could therefore occur again.
As a result of this investigation, the NSIA issues a total of four safety recommendations. The recommendations include:
- Development of a dedicated regulatory framework for the commercial rental of recreational craft, with supervisory responsibility assigned to the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
- Requirements for tracking and alerting systems under the new regulatory framework.
- Inspections by the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) of rental enterprises marketing the use of Dolmøy 230 Fisker vessels.
- Follow‑up by the Norwegian Maritime Authority of the vessel manufacturer to ensure that the boats comply with current ISO standards for freeboard and stability.
Published 29.04.2026
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2026/01T
On Sunday 4 May 2025, three tourist anglers were fishing in a rented Dolmøy 230 Fisker 2015 model in Sildegapet, north of Måløy, when the vessel capsized and all three perished.
The investigation has shown that the vessel had not been modified in accordance with requirements set forth by the NMA following an accident in 2014 with a similar vessel, and which the manufacturer confirmed had been implemented on the 2015 and 2016 models. The vessel models with these weaknesses constitute a danger. The NSIA therefore believes that the Norwegian Maritime Authority revoked the previous import and sales ban against the manufacturer on faulty grounds, as it was taken for granted that earlier models had been modified with a raised sill on the starboard side and that the drain openings had been redesigned with a reduced cross-section. The NSIA is of the opinion that both the previous solution for the drain openings with an internal flap, and the new design with an external flap, are to be considered as downflooding points. Furthermore, the NSIA is of the opinion that a reduced cross-section of the drain openings, as proposed by the NMA, will not alone result in the openings no longer being considered downflooding points. It is therefore unclear, both in the correspondence to the manufacturer and in the safety notice, what the NMA believes the manufacturer must do to satisfy the ISO requirements on this point.
The NSIA recommends that the Norwegian Maritime Authority implement measures to ensure that all Dolmøy 230 Fisker vessels placed on the market comply with the applicable ISO standards for freeboard and stability.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2026/02T
On Sunday 4 May 2025, three tourist anglers were fishing in a rented Dolmøy 230 Fisker 2015 model in Sildegapet, north of Måløy, when the vessel capsized and all three perished.
The investigation has shown that the vessel did not comply with ISO standards and that the vessel has significant vulnerabilities with regard to water ingress. Based on the NSIA's preliminary findings in this investigation, the NMA registered the Dolmøy 230 Fisker as a dangerous product. The NMA does not itself have the authority to prevent private individuals or rental enterprises from using the vessel. DSB is the supervisory authority for rental enterprises and may, pursuant to the Product Control Act, conduct inspections of such enterprises. It also has the authority to suspend rental operations where consumer service safety requirements are not met. The NSIA considers that inspections targeting rental enterprises marketing Dolmøy 230 Fisker vessels could contribute to limiting further rental and use of this boat type.
The NSIA recommends that DSB conducts inspections of rental enterprises that use Dolmøy 230 Fisker vessels, ensuring that boats not complying with ISO design standards are withdrawn from service.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2026/03T
On Sunday 4 May 2025, three tourist anglers were fishing in a rented Dolmøy 230 Fisker 2015 model in Sildegapet, north of Måløy, when the vessel capsized and all three perished.
In 2021, the NMA and the DSB conducted a joint review of regulatory requirements and the exercise of authority in relation to the rental of recreational craft. The review concluded that the current internal control regime is insufficient to ensure safe operations in an industry where users often lack experience with boats and the sea. The review further recommended the establishment of a clear supervisory and inspection structure, with the NMA designated as the competent authority for rental vessels.
The NSIA considers that responsibility for supervision and enforcement should be assigned to the NMA, which already possesses the necessary maritime and technical expertise. Such an allocation of responsibility would ensure better coordination between regulatory frameworks for recreational craft used in commercial enterprises, whether operated with or without a hired skipper on board.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries establishes a regulatory framework for rental enterprises operating recreational craft and grants the Norwegian Maritime Authority authority to conduct supervision pursuant to this framework.
Safety recommendation MARINE No 2026/04T
On Sunday 4 May 2025, three tourist anglers were fishing in a rented Dolmøy 230 Fisker 2015 model in Sildegapet, north of Måløy, when the vessel capsized and all three perished.
The anglers were unable to send a distress signal, and approximately eight hours elapsed from the time the vessel likely capsized until the first angler was found. With no means of alerting on board other than mobile phones, they were unable to notify others that they were in distress.
In this accident, for example, an emergency position-indicating radio beacon capable of alerting the emergency services directly would rapidly have provided information about the position of the persons in distress. This would have constituted a more reliable means of alerting than a mobile telephone that had fallen into the sea. If the vessel had been tracked, there would also have been a greater likelihood that the rental company could have detected that the vessel was in trouble, and would also have had information about its location. The current regulations governing rental enterprises is generic and not specifically adapted to the rental of vessels. The NSIA considers that there is a lack of regulations specifically directed at rental enterprises and the safety measures required to conduct safe rental operations. This is particularly important given that those who rent boats are not always familiar with the vessel, the waters, the weather conditions or the Norwegian emergency alerting system. The regulations should include requirements for both tracking and alerting systems. Two rental-related accidents investigated by NSIA in 2025 have demonstrated that these are critical safety measures for saving lives.
The NSIA recommends that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries assigns the Norwegian Maritime Authority the task of developing a regulatory framework that includes requirements for tracking and alerting systems for rental enterprises and rental vessels.
Facts
| Location | North of Vågsøy |
| Occurrence date | 04.05.2025 |
| Accident category | Capsize |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | Fritidsbåt/utleiebåt |
| Accident type | Fatal Accident, Capsize, Loss of stability |
| Vessel type | Misc. Ship |
| Register | Not registered |