Øyværing after the accident Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority
Accidents

Report on fatal man overboard mishap in northern Norway highlights risks of single-handed fishing

Baird Maritime

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) recently published a report on a fatal man overboard incident involving a fisherman in Kabelvåg in northern Norway on March 1, 2024.

On the said date, the lone crewman on the fishing vessel Øyværing was in the process of setting a third chain of gillnets. This individual later fell overboard, but 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 emergency services agencies, and a search was initiated.

The fisherman was later found in the area where the third chain of gillnets had been set. He died as a result of the accident.

A large proportion of the accidents investigated by the 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 adequate measures that can eliminate this hazard completely.

The NSIA found that, 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 such as lifejackets. 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 instead highlights the importance of following up on the vision zero action plan.