CASE STUDY

Helge Ingstad - Sola TS

 CASE STUDY

Collision between
Helge Ingstad & Sola TS
 Scope
• Background
• Narrative
• Analysis
• Lessons Learnt
 Background
• On 08 Nov 18, a Norwegian frigate ‘Helge
Ingstad’ collided with an oil tanker ‘Sola TS’
• Helge Ingstad- fourth Fridtjof Nansen-class air
defence frigate of 5,290 tonnes, 134m length
 Background
• Sola TS- Maltese flagged oil tanker of 62557
ton, 250m long
 Incident Location

Sture Terminal
 Narrative
• Ingstad was headed
south at 17-18 knots
• AIS in rx mode
Ingstad
• 0240h - Ingstad
notified its route to Sola TS
VTS
• 0300h - Pilot boarded
Sola TS. It was getting
ready to depart from
Sture terminal
 Narrative
• 0313h - Sola TS
unmoored
Incident Location
• 0340h - Watch handing
over onboard Ingstad
• 0345h - Sola TS Sture Terminal

departed, heading west

• 0355h – New OOW
took over watch on
Ingstad
 Narrative
• Sola TS assisted by
two tugs turned onto
350°
• 0357h – Pilot onboard
tanker observed a non
AIS radar echo, and
queried VTS for its
identification
• Sola TS tried to
establish contact with
the warship
Narrative
• 0400h - Sola TS made
several request to
Ingstad to alter course
stbd, which were over-
ruled stating no
clearence due
obstruction
• Shortly after, Ingstad
carried out evasive
manoeuver
 Narrative
• Ingstad sustained major damage. Lost the control
of rudder and propulsion
• It ran aground on the shore about 10 min from
collision
• Seven sailors were injured in the incident, No
fatalities
• No damage to Sola TS
 Analysis
• Sparsely populated island, hence few lights to
mark the coast line
• AIS of Ingstad in Rx mode in VTS controlled
approaches
• Identification of Sola TS as stationery object
while handing over the watch
 Analysis
• Lookout
• Fedje VTS did not
initially have info on
Ingstad
• Alteration in course
of Sola TS restricted
by pilot due to
merchant traffic
 Analysis
• Even after contact on
R/T Ingstad did not
assess the contacts
• Ingstad replied that she
could not turn stbd, as
to alter westwards
would put her too close
to the shore
• Running aground
 Analysis
• Close quarter after impact-
• Sola TS with Vestbris
• Seigrunn with unnamed
contact
• Design flaw in watertight
integrity of Fridtjof Nansen
frigates
 Analysis
• Situation governed by Rule 14 (head on
situation) of IRPCS
• Sola TS was hemmed in to starboard due to
overtaking merchant traffic
• Turning port under Rule 2 (Responsibility) was
risky
• Ingstad did not take any way off even after risk
of collision was well established (Rule 8e)
• Ingstad also could have turned port
 Lessons Learnt
• AIS Tx in confined waters
• Preparation before taking over of watch
• Use all available means for situational
awareness
• Solidified assumptions will hamper reassessment
• In case of any doubt, slow down or take all the
way off (Rule 8e)