The Norwegian government has formally filed a claim for compensation of up to 1 billion euros ($1.128 billion) against the Spanish Navantia shipyard for the loss of the frigate KNM Helge Ingstad. The Norwegian side alleges that there were serious design flaws in the construction of the frigate, which was a decisive factor in the accident.
On November 8, 2018, the frigate KNM Helge Ingstad collided with the oil tanker SOLA TS in the waters northwest of Bergen, Norway, while returning from a military exercise. The collision caused the frigate’s hull to crack, and severe water ingress was so severe that it was too late to drain, tilting the ship’s stern into the sea and causing irreversible damage, which eventually led to its dismantling. The 112,000 dwt tanker SOLA was not damaged.
The Norwegian National Security Investigation Agency (NSIA) investigation report found that the accident stemmed from operational errors by the ship’s crew, including communication failures and miscalculation of navigational signals, and concluded that Navantia was not liable. The agency’s report concluded that the damage to the frigate’s hull exceeded the design parameters and that the sinking could have been avoided if the evacuation had been more effective.
Although the NSIA investigation report blamed human error for the sinking of the frigate KNM Helge Ingstad, the Norwegian government insists that construction defects were at the root of the tragedy. In its latest allegations, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense states that a fatal design flaw in the propeller shaft sealing system led to a serious malfunction that accelerated water ingress into the ship’s hull.
In August 2024, a new round of lawsuits filed by the Norwegian government once again brought the shipyard liability controversy to the center of public opinion. Currently, the Norwegian government is seeking up to 1 billion euros in damages, covering the cost of building a new frigate, as well as the salvage of the sunken ship and the dismantling of the ship.
Navantia shipyard built five Nansen-class frigates between 2006 and 2011. The frigates are the mainstay of the current Royal Norwegian Navy and are equipped with the US-made Aegis combat system, making them the smallest Aegis ships in the world. “KNM Helge Ingstad is the fourth ship of the Nansen class, with a length of 132 meters, a full load displacement of about 5,200 tons, and a cost of about $500 million.
The Norwegian Government and Navantia are in pre-trial mediation consultations regarding compensation. Although the Norwegian government tends to reach a settlement through mediation, if the two sides failed to reach an agreement before September 23, 2025, the trial will begin on September 23, 2025. Industry experts pointed out that the outcome of the lawsuit will have a profound impact on the field of shipbuilding and operation. Once the judgment is finalized, the case is likely to become an important precedent in defining the responsibility of shipowners and shipyards.