Norwegian Company Fined Over Shipping Deaths

A Norwegian shipping company has been fined nearly ?500,000 after eight people, including a 14-year-old boy and his father, were killed when one of its vessels capsized off Shetland.

The Bourbon Dolphin tipped over as it towed an oil rig's anchor and chain during a routine manoeuvre about 75 miles north-west of Shetland in April 2007.

The 330-tonne chain, one of eight anchoring the Transocean Rather drilling rig to the ocean floor near the Rosebank oil field, suddenly began sliding across the new vessel's deck, pulling it over.

The dead included David Arve Remy, 14, and his father, Oddne Arve Remy, 44, the ship's captain. David had been on a week-long work experience voyage. Their deaths shocked their community, the small fishing village of Heroy on the west coast of Norway.

Seven of the 15 crew survived after a major air-sea rescue effort involving RAF search and rescue helicopters, naval divers and an unmanned submarine. The vessel later sank, before the missing men and the teenager could be found.

Norway's national prosecutor, Bjoern Soknes, said the boat's owner, Bourbon Offshore Norway AS, had failed to give Remy enough time to become familiar with the vessel, its crew and the anchor-handling operation. Remy was only given 90 minutes to take over.

The firm was ordered to pay 5m kroner (?491,000). It can appeal against the decision. Bourbon refused to comment.

The other victims of the disaster were Bjarte Grimstad, 37, and Frank Nygrd, 42, from Hareid; 31-year-old Kjetil Rune Vge, Ronny Emblem, 25, and 54-year-old Tor Karl Sand, from Alesund; and Sren Kroer, 27, from Denmark.

An inquiry set up by the Norwegian government raised doubts about the ability of both the vessel and its crew to handle large anchors in such deep water.