The group, out with two tourist fishing boats, observed a weather phenomenon resembling small tornadoes and decided to turn back. On the way back, one boat was hit by strong wind from the side, causing it to capsize within seconds. One person survived and alerted emergency services after reaching shore; the other person on board died.
Stability calculations showed the boat's stability was initially good with two people on board, but with wind gusts over 30 m/s, the vessel capsized. The calculated wind gusts match those observed on the day of the accident. The Accident Investigation Board makes no new safety recommendations but supports previous ones, including requiring tracking and alerting for rental businesses and vessels.
The board notes that current regulations are too general and lack clear safety requirements, especially for the rental industry. The report emphasizes that rental operators must assess local wind conditions, especially for boats with large wheelhouses vulnerable to strong gusts. Fisheries Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss stated that there have been several serious accidents involving rental boats in recent years.
The government will follow up the report in cooperation with the Norwegian Maritime Authority as part of the National Action Plan for Maritime Safety, where rental vessels are a focus area. The Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning, in cooperation with the Norwegian Maritime Authority, started a nationwide inspection campaign last autumn targeting rental boat operators to reduce risk and increase compliance.