Date of occurrence:
S-98/24
NOLE - Very serious marine causality outside Hudiksvall
Summary in English
On the morning of 30 April, 2024, the work boat NOLE was used to install new concrete anchors to a jetty in a small marina in central Hudiksvall. The weather was calm, and there were almost no waves in the harbor. The master maneuvered the vessel from its wheelhouse located at the stern, while two crew members stood by the vessel's crane at the bow.
The concrete anchor was suspended from a wire running through the crane arm to a winch on the port side of the vessel. The winch was used to lift and lower the concrete anchor. During transport, the anchor was kept submerged in the water in order to reduce the weight exerted on the crane and the vessel. The crane, which could rotate 360 degrees, was initially positioned in a forward position.
During the transport, the crane arm unintentionally swung uncontrollably over the port side of the vessel. This caused the vessel to capsize and sink. The crew managed to climb onto the starboard side of the capsized vessel but ended up in the water as the vessel sank. All crew members were able to make it to the jetty, with decreased body temperatures, but otherwise unharmed.
Causes of the accident
The vessel capsized because it was not designed to withstand the load caused by the crane connected the concrete anchor. The risks associated with the work had not been identified. The vessel sank because it was not constructed with reserve buoyancy in the form of watertight compartments or flotation devices.
At a systemic level, there are inadequacies in the framework governing how cranes on smaller vessels may affect the stability.
Safety recommendations
The Swedish Transport Agency is recommended to
• clarify the stability requirements for smaller vessels equipped with deck cranes (see Section 3.2.4). (SHK 2025:13 R1)
• Review how ship particulars from the agency’s registers can be utilized in inspections (see Section 3.3.2). (SHK 2025:13 R2)
• What information vessel owners should report to EKAN (see Section 3.3.2). (SHK 2025:13 R3)
Hübinette Dykentreprenad AB is recommended to
• implement safety measures to prevent the use of the vessel’s crane in such a way that it may create a dangerous heeling moment (see Section 3.3.1). (SHK 2025:13 R4)
Kristina Börjevik Kovaniemi
Per Jakobsson
Page information
- Last updated:
- 27 June 2025