Officials in Norway have released a report containing the results of the first phase of the Accident Investigation Board Norway’s investigation into the collision involving the Norwegian war-frigate Helge Ingstad and the oil tanker Sola TS outside the Sture terminal in November 2018.
The first phase of the investigation sought to establish the sequence of events leading up to the collision during the NATO exercise. Investigators determined that the incident was the result of multiple operational, technical, organizational and systemic factors.
The HNoMS Helge Ingstad and the Sola TS collided in the Hjeltefjord fjord in the early hours of 8 November 2018 as the Solas TS was departing the Sture Terminal and the frigate was southbound with its AIS in “passive mode”.
The collision resulted in extensive damage to the starboard side of the HNoMS Helge Ingstad, causing the frigate to partially sink along the shoreline. The Solas TS suffered only minor damages.
The tanker Sola TS was operated by the Greek shipping company Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (TCM) S.A. There was a total of 24 persons on board. The bridge was manned by four persons, including the pilot.
G-Captain / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
