Swedish prosecutors have broadened their investigation into the tragic collision that occurred last month between the Norwegian cargo ship Misje Verde and a pleasure boat. They have now named the pilot of the pleasure boat as a criminal suspect alongside the ship's captain.
On Thursday, the Swedish Prosecution Authority announced that the pilot, who was assigned through the Swedish Maritime Administration's mandatory pilotage service, is suspected of negligent navigation and causing the death of another person. The pilot denies any wrongdoing.
This development follows a recent decision by a Swedish court to detain the foreign captain of Misje Verde, based on probable cause related to the death of another person. Prosecutors expressed concerns about flight risk and the possibility of the captain interfering with the investigation. The deadline for the indictment has been set for August 14.
Prosecutors indicated that Misje Verde was operating under mandatory pilotage at the time of the accident on July 28. In accordance with Swedish regulations, the pilot's role is to assist the captain in safely navigating the vessel. Investigators now believe that the pilot was so actively involved on the bridge that there are grounds to suspect him of criminal responsibility as well.
“The captain and the pilot have provided mostly consistent accounts regarding their responsibilities on the bridge,” stated Senior Prosecutor James von Reis.
Unlike the captain, the pilot has not been detained because prosecutors found no sufficient legal reasons for pretrial detention.
Cargo Ship Overtook Pleasure Boat
According to the prosecution's investigation, the collision happened after Misje Verde overtook the 7-8 meter motorboat in Hakefjord, located southwest of Gothenburg. Both vessels had been heading south and west for a while, but the pleasure boat was moving considerably slower.
Prosecutors claim the cargo ship struck the smaller vessel from behind, effectively running it over. The pleasure boat was pulled under the cargo ship, filled with water, and sank almost immediately in about 20 meters (65 feet) of water between the islands of Katten and Lövön.
There were four people on the pleasure boat. An adult and a child managed to escape and were rescued by nearby boaters anchored near Katten Island. Unfortunately, another adult and child did not survive. Divers later recovered one victim from inside the sunken boat and located the other nearby on the seafloor.
Focus on COLREG Compliance
The investigation is focusing on whether the bridge team followed the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).
At the time of the accident, only the captain and the pilot were present on the bridge. Prosecutors stated that understanding their respective responsibilities is a key issue in the investigation.
Authorities are looking into possible violations of Rule 5, which requires vessels to maintain a proper lookout, and Rule 13, which states that an overtaking vessel must keep clear of the vessel being overtaken.
However, prosecutors noted that if heavy rain had significantly limited visibility, Rule 19, which governs conduct in restricted visibility, would apply instead of Rule 13. Rule 19 requires vessels to substantially reduce speed, among other precautions. Authorities are also checking compliance with Rule 35, which mandates vessels in restricted visibility to sound fog signals every two minutes. Prosecutors confirmed that no sound signals were made.
Investigation Continues
Investigators have obtained data from the cargo ship's Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), often referred to as the "black box," which is currently being examined.
Prosecutors indicated that newly recovered images of the pleasure boat support their initial assessment that it was effectively "run over" by the cargo ship. Although the physical damage may suggest a different angle of impact, this could be attributed to the strong hydrodynamic forces created by a large, fast-moving vessel, and it does not alter their view on potential negligence.
The operator of the pleasure boat has been interviewed by authorities both while in the hospital and during a more thorough follow-up.
Prosecutors mentioned that they currently do not suspect the pleasure boat's operator of any navigation rule violations. They added that even if evidence emerges suggesting a navigational breach, they would not pursue criminal charges given the significant personal loss the operator has experienced due to the accident, in accordance with Sweden's Code of Judicial Procedure.
The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have chosen not to provide further comments until more evidence has been reviewed.