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Norwegian authorities have launched an investigation after a fisherman operating a single-handed crab boat was found dead in the sea
A fisherman operating a single-handed crab boat lost his life at the weekend after he went overboard from his vessel at the Tanafjord, Finnmark county, in the very north of Norway.
As a result of the incident, the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority has decided to investigate the accident which happened on on 12 August 2023 with the fishing vessel Otterøy. The fishing vessel was found unmanned with the engine running, and later a deceased person was found in the sea.
“It seems that he was holding onto a buoy in order not to drift away,” says operations manager Robin Fure at the police operations centre in Finnmark.
Significant resources were dispatched following concerns raised by people onshore, including the Norwegian coastguard helicopter.
Discovery of Fisherman
The Main Rescue Coordination Centre (HRS) received a report of a missing fisherman at 06:45 on Sunday morning. The rescue helicopter from Banak, the rescue vessel RS “Peter Henry von Koss,” and local fishermen were sent to the location where the boat was registered at its last known AIS position.
The missing man in his 60’s was found deceased at approximately 08:40 by a fisherman, as was reported by iFinnmark.
Clung to a buoy
The man was found around half past eight near his vessel, a 9.5-metre-long fishing boat.
“He clung to a buoy attached to a trap. He was transported to Mehamn, where the police have assisted in notifying the closest relatives,” said Operations Leader Robin Fure at the police operations centre in Finnmark, as told to the newspaper Kyst og Fjord.
The accident occurred slightly southwest of Kisteneset in Langfjorden, which is a side fjord of Tanafjorden.
Reportedly, the area experienced calm and fair weather.
The Finnmark Police has confirmed that an autopsy on the deceased will be carried out as they do not have any information about the cause or time of death.
