Discover the Ro-Vision: Ratings & Maritime News

On October 24, 2020, at approximately 6 p.m., a dramatic rescue unfolded off the coast of Stokka in Alstenfjord, Nordland, where a seven-meter aluminum workboat capsized. The incident occurred near Tingvoll, adjacent to Sandnessjøen Airport, as a powerful wave struck the vessel, causing it to tilt at a precarious 90-degree angle. The skipper, who had been using the boat for aquaculture, found himself trapped in the wheelhouse as he struggled against the water pressure, unable to open the door. In a desperate act, he was able to send out a Mayday call just before an air bubble sustained in the wheelhouse kept the boat from sinking completely. Local emergency services, including the ferry ‘Tenna’, a pilot vessel from Sandnessjøen, and the ambulance boat ‘Eyr Ytterholmen’—which all dispatched diving crews from the Sandnessjøen fire brigade—quickly responded to the scene. Notably, the nearby vessel ‘Ro Vision’, traveling from Tromsø to Nordskaget, launched its Man Overboard (MOB) boat. The dedicated crew managed to break down the door, successfully rescuing the trapped skipper. Although understandably shaken, he sustained no severe injuries. After the rescue, he was transferred to the ambulance boat and subsequently taken to Helgeland Hospital in Sandnessjøen for further care. Meanwhile, the lifeboat ‘Odd Fellow III’ attended to the recovered workboat, ensuring its safety until arrangements could be made for its retrieval. The capsizing occurred in favorable weather conditions, and preliminary investigations suggest the vessel may have been overloaded, leading to its unfortunate overturning. For further details, view the Norwegian report with accompanying photos.