Capsize inquiry hears of problems

The inquiry was hearing from the ship's survivors

The moments before an oil rig support vessel capsized off Shetland, with the loss of eight lives, have been described at an inquiry in Norway.

Witness told of problems in the run-up to the Bourbon Dolphin capsizing.

First mate Geir Syversen said an anchor handling operation with another ship eventually saw the anchor chain drag over the side of the Bourbon Dolphin.

The boat soon started to capsize and the boat turned over. Only three bodies were found afterwards.

The Bourbon Dolphin capsized 85 miles west of the Shetland coast on 12 April and sank three days later.

Five attempts

The three crew members confirmed dead are chief officer Bjarte Grimstad, 37, second officer Kjetil Rune Våge, 31, and 44-year-old captain Oddne Arve Remøy.

His son David Remøy, 14, is still missing, along with chief engineer Frank Nygård, 42, second engineer Ronny Emblem, 25, electrician Søren Kroer, 27, and 54-year-old bosun Tor Karl Sandø.

The inquiry in Alesund, Norway, heard the Bourbon Dolphin had been involved in an anchor handling operation with another ship, the Highland Valour, at the time of the incident.

David Remøy and his father Oddne Arve Remøy both died

Mr Syversen, the only survivor who was on the bridge during the accident, told the inquiry it took the Highland Valour five attempts to move the anchor.

On the final attempt the anchor chain, he said, dragged over the side of the Bourbon Dolphin.

The Highland Valour was told to go more north west.

The captain then came on the bridge and took a VHF radio and called on the Highland Valour: "Do you know the difference between north west and south east?"

Lost connection

A call from the chief engineer said the vessel had to reduce its thruster, because it was overheating.

Below deck, work started on filling tanks on the starboard side of the boat to keep it more steady.

The Highland Valour then lost the connection again.

The Bourbon Dolphin then tried to release the inner pin. This saw the chain run free and catch the outer tow pin.

The first mate said the boat then started to capsize. The cargo deck started to disappear below the water. The two main engines also stopped.

The hearing was told that the emergency release system was triggered but did not seem to work as intended. The boat then turned over.

The inquiry continues.