Rana-Frakt

On Mar 5, 2014, at 7.05 p.m. the MRCC Southern Norway got was notified that the "Rana Frakt" had suffered an engine failure at Vats in Hordaland. The crew reported via Rogaland Radio that they were disabled at Austre Bakholmen. Due to the stormy weather the MRCC dispatched two lifeboats, an ambulance boat and a Coast Guard vessel. After the lifeboat from the Vats Station had reached the freighter, it assisted the crew of five to regain control of the situation. Another lifeboat and a Coast Guard ship meanwhile were en route from Bergen. Local firefighters and police from Vats proceeded to Austevollshella. Around 8 p.m. the crew was able to restart the engine. The ship proceeded to Torangsneset with own power then.

While the owners of the "Rana Frakt" and "Robas" after the collision of the ships on Dec 1, 2011, were blaming each other, the court believed Rana Shipping must be blamed for the collision between Bjorøy and Sotra. Just before the crash sent the first officer of the "Robas" sent the lookout to check a valve. The "Robas" was loaded with 100 tonnes of live salmon when it crashed into the "Rana Frakt" at 7 p.m. The two vessels kept a speed of respectively 7.5 and 9 knots before the accident. The "Rana Frakt" suffered a gash in the bow, but could continue to Sandnes. The "Robas" had suffered water ingress in a pump room which was sealed by a diver before the ship went to t Skogsvåg to unload the fish, which was followed by a 46 days long stay at a repar yard in Bergen. In the aftermath , there have been legal wrangling between the shipowners about who was responsible for the collision. The Bergen County Court sentenced Rana Frakt to pay Rostein - which owns Robas - and the insurance company over nine million Norwegian crowns. The Bergen County Court determined that the maneuvers of the "Rana Frakt" were the predominant cause of the collision. The course did not provide enough space for northbound traffic. The master being alone on the bridge did not comply with the rules of safety at sea. The "Robas" was not to be blamed for running ashore after it suffered water ingress in the pump room. This was done to prevent it from sinking. Rana Frakt and insurance company have appealed the ruling, and in June the Court of Appeal in Gulating will be dealing with the case. Norwegian report with photos: http://www.ba.no/nyheter/article7132255.ece

The "Rana Frakt", while coming in to Flåværleia, suddenly stopped on Dec 28, 2013, at 9 a.m. The ship was coming from Bergen where it had sailed on Dec 26. A lifeboat was called to assist and took the ship, which was destined for Mo-in-Rana, in tow.