Working Conditions Aboard the Hunter

Authorities have confirmed the identity of a body recovered from the trawl of the fishing vessel 'Kongsfjord' on April 12, 2024. The deceased was identified as 38-year-old Latvian, Romans Solovjovs, found off the southeast coast of Svalbard. Family members have been informed, and while a final autopsy report is pending, initial reports suggest the cause of death was drowning. Havøy Kystfiske, the company operating the trawler, expressed their appreciation for the crew's efforts in recovering Solovjovs and hoped this poignant discovery would aid the police in concluding their investigation, bringing some solace to the grieving family. Solovjovs went missing after falling overboard from the snow crab vessel 'Hunter' on January 30, 2023. Detailed accounts from an accident report reveal that he was preparing the rails when the tragic incident occurred. Following this, the Accident Investigation Board alerted the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to serious safety concerns onboard the 'Hunter,' leading to its detention in Tromsø until compliance measures were instituted. As a result, all relevant certifications were revoked due to significant security violations linked to this unfortunate event. The owner of Havøy Kystfiske, Jøran Helde, publicly contested the directorate's findings and has lodged an appeal regarding several aspects of the audit report, which remains unresolved. The vessel is currently docked in Ålesund, where the company faced a hefty fine of 500,000 Norwegian crowns, attributed to violations regarding the employment of foreign crew members.

In a response to a tragic incident that occurred on January 30, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has announced it will conduct urgent inspections of ocean-going crab fishing vessels. The announcement comes in the wake of a crew member from the fishing vessel 'Hunter' going overboard while engaged in snow crab fishing activities in the Barents Sea. Sadly, the individual is currently missing and is presumed dead. Following this grave event, the Directorate is mandating that vessel owners collaborate with their crew to reassess work protocols and pinpoint hazards that could lead to falls overboard or being pulled into the sea by equipment. Additionally, ship operators are required to ensure that all crew members are proficient in the working language on board and that there is a robust communication system established between the wheelhouse and the working deck, as well as among crew members on the deck. If any regulations are found to be unmet, the Directorate will impose orders for remedial measures. These measures may include the installation of physical barriers, safety devices, and anti-slip features designed to mitigate the risk of falling overboard.

A tragic incident unfolded on January 30, 2023, when a fisherman from the vessel 'Hunter' fell overboard while engaged in snow crab fishing approximately 100 nautical miles east of Hopen, Svalbard, in the Barents Sea. The Central Rescue Service was alerted to the situation at 7:05 p.m. local time, prompting an immediate coordinated rescue operation led by the MRCC in Northern Norway. The Coastguard quickly deployed from Longyearbyen to assist in the search efforts for the missing individual. Despite the diligent search efforts that lasted until 10:24 p.m., the rescue operation was called off due to diminishing prospects of locating the fisherman. The emergency team from Havøy Kystfiske in Skodje has been collaborating closely with search and rescue teams to ensure all possible measures are taken. The family of the missing fisherman has been informed, and the owners of the vessel are prioritizing the well-being of the crew. The remaining crew members will continue their search alongside the Coast Guard as long as conditions allow, before the vessel makes its way to Tromsø, where a crisis support team is prepared to assist. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the accident, and both the police and the Accident Investigation Board are set to conduct a thorough investigation.