Icelandic Court Clears Ship Owner in Crew Death Case
Icelandic courts have rejected a damage claim from parents of a crew member who drowned off Vopnafjörður. The fishing vessel owner was cleared of gross negligence allegations despite the deckhand's lack of formal safety training. The ruling underscores the challenges in maritime safety enforcement across Iceland's fishing industry.
An Icelandic court has cleared a fishing vessel owner and insurer of negligence claims. The parents of a crew member who drowned sought 15 million krónur in damages. Their son fell overboard near Vopnafjörður harbor in May 2020. He had been working on the vessel Erling KE for less than two weeks. The parents argued the ship's captain failed to conduct proper safety training. They noted the crew member hadn't completed mandatory safety courses before boarding. Courts found the company followed legal training exemptions. New crew have 180 days from registration to complete safety courses. The vessel was owned by Saltvers but leased by fishing company Brim. It primarily fished for cod off Iceland's north and east coasts. The inexperienced crew member joined on May 5 without maritime background. A friend had recommended him to the captain. The accident occurred just before docking after a fishing trip. Both Reykjavík District Court and the Court of Appeal ruled similarly. They found onboard safety instructions weren't sufficiently lacking to constitute gross negligence. The ship's captain didn't conduct a headcount when approaching port. Icelandic maritime law requires safety training but allows temporary exemptions. This case highlights the balance between formal requirements and practical onboard training. The legal system sided with the employer's compliance with technical requirements.