A Commission of Inquiry report on the loss published last year by Norway’s Ministry of Justice said it was not possible to show an individual error, technical or human, leading to the tragedy. Rather, there was a combination of circumstances acting together, including change of course to avoid a mooring line at the same time as the inner starboard towing pin was depressed, causing the chain to rest against the outer port towing pins. This gave the chain an altered point and angle of attack on the vessel. Together with the vessel’s current load condition, the fact that the roll reduction tank was probably in use, and the effect on the vessel and chain of external forces, caused the vessel to capsize.

The report noted weaknesses in the design of the vessel and failures in the handling of the safety systems by the company, by the operator and on the rig as major contributory factors to the incident. It said, ‘Overall, system failures on the part of many players caused necessary safety barriers to be lacking, were ignored or were breached, so that the vessel and crew were exposed to a risk that resulted in the accident.’

Earlier this week, the national prosecutor said Bourbon Offshore had given Oddne Arve Remy only 90 minutes to familiarise himself with the vessel, the crew and the anchor handling operation. Bourbon Offshore can appeal against the decision but made no immediate response.