The findings from the investigation have indicated that, on 23 July 2015, the 3rd officer was inspecting the lifebuoys mounted on the bridge wings while he was alone on watch on the bridge. During the inspection of the starboard lifebuoy, he accidentally lost his footing and fell overboard between 1005 and 1010 local time.
Within 15 minutes the crewmembers realized that the 3rd officer was missing and they immediately responded as if he had fallen overboard and initiated the man overboard procedures. Several ships participated in the search, but were unsuccessful in locating the 3rd officer. He was located and recovered by a rescue helicopter deployed from the Danish JRCC. Resuscitation was commenced immediately after he was recovered from the sea, but was not successful. He was pronounced dead at Aalborg University Hospital at 1619 local time.
The accident was a result of an absence of clear instructions on how to go about inspecting the lifebuoy. In the absence of instruction or guidance, he made a detailed inspection of the only item he could – namely the light. Neither the workplace nor the lifebuoy was designed for maintenance work. In order to carry out that inspection he had to climb the guard rail, thereby exposing himself to the risk of falling overboard. Presumably, he did not don a harness and fall arrester, because the risk of falling was not apparent to the 3rd officer as he was still behind the guard rail.
The company has initiated measures to better aid the ship board personnel in maintaining the lifesaving equipment.