Learning lessons from the loss of the Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad

Summary

In 2021 the Accident Investigation Board – Norway (AIBN) published a detailed report covering the loss of HNoMS Helge Ingstad after she collided with an oil tanker in November 2018. There is much to be learned from this event that is applicable to the RN and global navies. In this in-depth, although far from exhaustive, article we describe the incident and look at some of the key lessons.The accident in summaryOn 8th November 2018, the frigate Helge Ingstad (HING) was heading south down Hjeltefjord returning to her home base at Haakonsvern, near Bergen after participation in NATO exercise Trident Juncture. Just after 0400, HING collided with the bow of the Sola TS, a fully laden 112,939 DWT tanker, heading north having just departed from Sture oil terminal. The bulbous anchor hawse pipe on the tanker’s starboard bow ripped a large gash down the aft starboard side of the frigate. As HING heeled slightly under the impact, the tear in the side was extended sufficiently below the waterline to cause significant flooding.Fortunately, there were no fatalities but HING suffered a brief total electrical failure after the impact. Power was partially restored but confusion and internal communication problems limited damage the control effort. Having lost steering and engine control, the ship ran aground on rocks about 10 minutes after the collision. Believing the flooding made capsize a likely, the crew abandoned ship in an orderly manner, assisted by tugs and rescue craft. Despite efforts to pin the ship on the rocks by tugs and with steel hawsers, HING progressively flooded sinking until almost entirely submerged.Some months later, after complex clearance diving operations to remove fuel and live weapons and then secure chains beneath the wreck, HNIG was raised off the sea bed using a heavy lift crane barge. The wreck was eventually placed on a semi-submersible transportation barge and taken to Haakonsvern for further investigations and to remove sensitive material. Temporar...