Simplified report Nr. 2-2024
On the evening of 19 May 2024, approximately 20 nautical miles off Ventspils in Latvia’s exclusive economic zone, a deckhand on board the Lithuanian-flagged fishing vessel TOVE sustained a serious chest injury while the vessel was towing a pelagic trawl.
The investigation established that, when the master turned the vessel to port, the trawl wire suddenly came under tension due to the weight of the catch and trapped the deckhand, who was standing between the wire and the stern bulwark—within a hazardous area between a moving, loaded wire and a fixed part of the vessel’s structure.
Significantly, there were no written, vessel-specific instructions on board for working with fishing gear, and the existing safety documentation was only general in nature.
The injured person was evacuated by a Lithuanian rescue helicopter to Ventspils Hospital, where the severity of the chest injury required a prolonged recovery period.
The investigation was subsequently discontinued because the vessel could not be accessed, the persons involved were experiencing long-term health problems, and they were unwilling to cooperate.
Serious injury of crew member on board of Lithuanian flagged fishing vessel TOVE on 19 May 2024 in Baltic Sea
Simplified report Nr. 1-2026
On the morning of 5 January 2026, the Latvian-flagged cargo vessel FRIENDLAND, carrying a cargo of rapeseed, struck berth MS-13 in the Port of Riga while departing the berth and carrying out a turning manoeuvre without tug assistance.
The investigation established that, at the critical moment, when the vessel was approximately 20 metres from the berth, the controllable-pitch propeller ceased to respond, while the bow thruster had already been manually switched off, making it impossible to arrest the vessel’s momentum.
The underlying causes included instability of the main engine governor, which repeatedly triggered an automatic reduction in engine speed and interrupted the power supply to the bow thruster. At the same time, the manoeuvre was being conducted from the bridge without knowledge of the degraded condition of the propulsion system, as the engine room had not communicated this information.
The vessel’s port quarter struck the berth at an angle of approximately 75 degrees and a speed of 1.2 knots, causing significant damage to both berth MS-13 and the vessel’s hull above the waterline. No persons were injured in the accident.
Allision of Latvian flagged vessel FRIENDLAND with pier in port of Riga on 05th January 2026
Simplified report Nr. 2-2026
On 20 January 2026, a deckhand on board the Latvian-flagged cargo vessel CAPELLA sustained a serious leg injury while hatch covers were being closed using the vessel’s gantry crane in the Port of Västerås, Sweden.
The investigation established that the injured person was standing within the crane’s operating area with his back to the moving crane and failed to respond to the active audible and visual warning signals. His leg became trapped between the crane’s drive mechanism and the rail.
The operation was carried out without supervision by the officer of the watch and without a clear communication protocol between the persons involved. These circumstances were compounded by systemic deficiencies in the vessel’s safety management system.
The deckhand sustained an open lower-leg injury requiring emergency surgery and was subsequently signed off the vessel, as he was unable to continue his contract.
Occupational accident (leg trauma) on board of Latvian flagged vessel CAPELLA in port of Vasteras (Sweden) on 21st January 2026
Final report SHK 2026:09e (Accident Investigation Lead Authority - Swedish Accident Investigation Authority)
In the early morning of 1 June 2025, the Swedish-flagged tug RON JEREMY, built in 1930, sank near Rödkallen off the coast of Piteå while towing a barge loaded with timber.
Approximately six hours after departure, the crew noticed a list to starboard and water on the aft deck, but did not realise that the vessel had already taken on a critical amount of water. Shortly afterwards, the vessel capsized and sank stern-first, pulling all four crew members underwater.
The investigation concluded that water had most likely entered one of the watertight compartments through minor hull damage, possibly caused by an unnoticed grounding, as the vessel had been navigating in shallow waters along the shortest route in order to complete the operation more quickly.
As the bilge alarm in the affected compartment was not functioning, the crew became aware of the danger too late, when there was no longer sufficient time to evacuate.
The vessel was a total loss. One crew member died, while the other three were rescued. A small quantity of diesel fuel was released into the sea.
RON JEREMY– the sinking of the vessel off the coast of Piteå
Simplified report Nr. 3-2026
On the evening of 3 March 2026, the Latvian-flagged tug SCORFF ran aground in the approach channel to the Port of Skulte while carrying out a routine pilot transfer operation in winter conditions.
The investigation established that, after the tug entered an area of ice, the ice mass shifted unexpectedly and exerted lateral pressure on the vessel, pushing it out of the channel towards the shallow edge. The tug was then unable to refloat without assistance and developed a dangerous list.
SCORFF did not have an ice class and was not suitable for operating in moving and compacted ice. Nevertheless, the decision to proceed was based on a visual assessment of the ice conditions and established practice rather than on a documented risk assessment.
No persons were injured. All five persons on board were evacuated by a helicopter of the Latvian National Armed Forces. No environmental pollution was detected, but the vessel sustained hull damage and was refloated ten days later.
Serious marine casualty involving the Latvian-flagged tug SCORFF in the Port of Skulte on 3 March 2026
Serious injury of crew member on board of Maltese flagged vessel KAILI on 02 May 2024 in Bay of Riga
1) Final report - Fatal man overboard from fishing trawler VARITA on August 28, 2022
2) Final report - Grounding MV"CEG Galaxy"on 01.08.2023. at Isle of Jura, Scotland, UK
2020, Collision of Faroe Islands vessel NOSSAN with Latvian fishing vessel MARITA in Baltic Sea on 15th July 2020
Heavy contact of Madeira flagged vessel Lyra with pier 51 A in Port of Liepaja port on 26th October 2019
Fatality onboard of cargo vessel "Piltene" in vicinity to Brazilian coast
Grounding of Liberian flagged vessel "RABA" in Liepaja port
Safety investigation into the fire on board the Latvian registered oil tanker "ZIRCON" on May 25, 2017
Fall of stevedore on container ship "Wes Janine" during cargo loading operation with loss of life in Riga port on 20.02.2017
MT GIANNUTRI Crew member fatality following a fall into an empty cargo oil tank at a shipyard in Riga, Latvia 21 June 2016
Death of a crew member of the M/V "VASTERBOTTEN" on 14/04/2016 while plying the Baltic Sea
Cilvēka bojāeja uz zvejas kuģa "Mēmele" Barenca jūrā 2016. g. 21. aprīlī
Tankkuģa "Flagman-1" uzsēšanās uz sēkļa 2015. gada 10. oktobrī Rīgas ostā
Sadursme starp zvejas kuģi "LLB 1124" un M-08 "Rūsiņš" 2014. g. 29. aprīlī
Marine casualty on board of MV "Staropolye" in port os Skulte on 24 Jan 2014
Sadursme starp kuģiem "Horizonts" un jahtu "Oskars" 2013. g. 01.septembrī
Grounding of mv "EMSSUN" in vicinity of cape of Kolka on 05 January 2013
Baržas "Liellaivas 804" apgāšanās Rīgas Tirdzniecības ostā kravas operācijas laikā 2012. gada 21. novembrī
Serious accident at sea on 15 October 2012 involving the vessel "Liva Greta" at Nockeby Bridge in the County of Stockholm, Sweden
Par jūras negadījumu ar zvejas kuģi "KATE", kurš notika 10 jūras jūdzes uz ziemeļrietumiem no Mērsraga ostas 2011. gada 23. augustā
Jahtas "Mārupe" kapteiņa pazušana bez vēsts Irbes šaurumā 2011. g. 09. augustā
Tankkuģa "DMITRIJS" sadursme ar bagarētāju "MARIEKE" Rīgas kuģu remonta rūpnīcas akvatorijā 2011. gada 28. jūlijā