Norway frigate collision due mainly to human factors: inquiry
A collision earlier this month between a Norwegian frigate and a Maltese oil tanker was mainly due to human factors, investigators said 29 November, ruling out a technical error at this stage.
Returning from NATO's Trident Juncture exercises, the KNM Helge Ingstad frigate sank after crashing into the Sola TS tanker in the early hours of 8 November, in a fjord near the western Norwegian town of Bergen.
Eight of the 137 people aboard the frigate received minor injuries.
‘As we see it, this is largely due to human factors,’ Dag Liseth of Norway's Accident Investigation Board told reporters as the preliminary findings into the cause of the accident were presented.
Investigators said the frigate's crew appeared to have confused the tanker with land, as the lights on the tanker - which was departing an oil terminal - blended together with the terminal's lights, and also made it impossible to see the tanker's navigation lanterns.
Another misunderstanding also occurred. The frigate ignored the tanker's warnings over the radio to veer starboard to avoid a collision, thinking the calls were coming from another vessel farther away in the fjord.
‘No isolated action or event caused the accident, but the accident can be explained by a series of compounded factors and circumstances,’ the accident board said in its preliminary assessment.
It also said it had no ‘indication at present that technical systems malfunctioned’.
Authorities are still trying to raise the 5,000-tonne vessel, which is almost entirely submerged.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Indo Pacific 2025: Australian Defence Force sets its sights on autonomy]()
Indo Pacific 2025: Australian Defence Force sets its sights on autonomy
Multiple autonomous systems and technologies were on display at this year’s Indo Pacific, but questions remain over how the Australian Department of Defence will balance the books.
-
![How the UK Royal Navy is powering up its hybrid fleet to combat new threats]()
How the UK Royal Navy is powering up its hybrid fleet to combat new threats
Since it announced its move towards a new “hybrid navy” earlier this year, the force has announced a number of new uncrewed technologies in the works.
-
![US and UK to begin Trident II D5 Increment 8 in October 2026]()
US and UK to begin Trident II D5 Increment 8 in October 2026
Trident II D5 Increment 8 will involve improvements to the shipboard navigation subsystem for the US Ohio and Columbia and the UK Dreadnought and Vanguard submarine classes.
-
![US Navy starts acquisition process for uncrewed maritime systems for support missions]()
US Navy starts acquisition process for uncrewed maritime systems for support missions
The USN is interested in uncrewed capabilities that can carry out explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, force protection, ISR and anti-submarine missions.
-
![What capabilities has the US deployed in the Caribbean and South America to engage “drug boats”?]()
What capabilities has the US deployed in the Caribbean and South America to engage “drug boats”?
The US arsenal includes amphibious assault and littoral combat ships, cutters, destroyers, landing platform docks, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, drones, ISR aircraft, helicopters and fighters.
-
![HMS Agamemnon: details of the dive and what the Astute-class signifies for the UK Royal Navy]()
HMS Agamemnon: details of the dive and what the Astute-class signifies for the UK Royal Navy
As HMS Agamemnon moves closer towards joining the UK’s in-service submarine fleet, how does the sixth Astute-class fit into the Royal Navy’s defence strategy?
