What Crew Members Say About Robas

A devastating maritime accident unfolded in Sortland on July 31, 2020, when a man in his 50s, employed by Rostein and residing in Møre og Romsdal, fell overboard from the vessel 'Robas'. The local police were notified at 2:45 a.m., and rescue efforts were launched promptly. The employee was swiftly recovered from the water and administered first aid. In the fallout of this tragedy, the crew received support from the municipality's crisis management team. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident is currently ongoing by local authorities.

In a notable legal battle stemming from a maritime collision on December 1, 2011, between the vessels 'Rana Frakt' and 'Robas', the Bergen County Court has delivered a decisive ruling. The court ordered Rana Shipping, the owner of 'Rana Frakt', to pay over nine million Norwegian crowns to Rostein, the owner of 'Robas', and its insurance provider. This incident unfolded when the 'Robas', carrying 100 tonnes of live salmon, collided with 'Rana Frakt' at approximately 7 p.m. during their respective speeds of 7.5 and 9 knots. Prior to the collision, the first officer of 'Robas' had instructed the lookout to inspect a valve. Despite suffering a significant gash in its bow, 'Rana Frakt' was able to continue its journey to Sandnes. In contrast, 'Robas' experienced flooding in its pump room, which necessitated a diver to seal the area before it headed to Skogsvåg for unloading and subsequently underwent a 46-day repair at a Bergen shipyard. The court determined that 'Rana Frakt' was primarily at fault due to inadequate provisions for northbound vessel passage and failure of the master, who was alone on the bridge, to adhere to maritime safety regulations. Moreover, the court found 'Robas' blameless for the subsequent grounding incident, which occurred while taking preventive measures against sinking. Following the ruling, both 'Rana Frakt' and its insurance company have chosen to appeal, and the case is expected to return to the Court of Appeal in Gulating in June. For further details, refer to the Norwegian coverage with accompanying photos. [Link to Report](http://www.ba.no/nyheter/article7132255.ece)

On December 2, the vessel 'Robas' successfully docked at the Bergen Group yard in Laksevåg after offloading its cargo. Following the incident, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate initiated a preliminary inquiry, uncovering that the crews of both ships had failed to establish VHF communication before the collision occurred. Investigators have conducted interviews with the crew members, reviewed onboard logbooks, and assessed the vessel's technical systems. A detailed report has been forwarded to the authorities in Haugesund. To ensure safety standards were met, local police carried out breathalyzer tests on the crews of both vessels involved, confirming that no crew members were under the influence. At the time of the incident, the 'Robas' was traveling from Haugesund to Florø, carrying a significant load of 100 tons of live salmon. In light of the collision, the crew made the decision to beach the ship to prevent it from sinking. Adverse weather conditions at the time of the mishap could potentially have played a role in the incident. Additionally, the 'Rana Frakt', which was en route to Sandnes with a minor steel cargo, sustained damage to its bow and will require repairs in Bergen before continuing its journey. For further details and photographs, refer to the Norwegian news reports: [NRK](http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/hordaland/1.7901136), [BA](http://www.ba.no/nyheter/article5831225.ece), and [Redningsselskapet](http://www.redningsselskapet.no/Forside/Kollisjon+s%C3%B8rvest+for+Bergen.141678.cms).