CB90 Speedboat Crashes into Archipelago in Sweden: Investigation Reveals Numerous Violations

In Sweden, a CB90 combat boat crashed into an archipelago near the island of Rörö. The investigation revealed serious safety violations during training exercises.

According to SVT Nyheter, none of the crew members were wearing seat belts, and there were no protective helmets on board.

These violations were only part of the shortcomings identified by the Swedish Commission for the Investigation of Aviation and Transport Accidents.

Four people were injured in the incident during the training exercises.

The incident occurred in February last year in the Gothenburg archipelago. The CB90 boat was performing a training maneuver as part of the training of conscripts who were learning to operate combat boats.

While underway, the vessel struck a rock near the island of Rör, resulting in injuries to crew members.

Four people were injured, two of them seriously, including severe head injuries.

CB90 report

In its final report, the commission cites several reasons for the accident. The complexity of the training did not correspond to the level of crew training and the conditions of darkness, knowledge of the navigation system remained insufficient, and the speed of movement did not correspond to the situation.

The Swedish Armed Forces’ own investigations confirmed similar conclusions about the causes of the incident. Military representatives note that the crew was moving too fast, while emphasizing the need to train to operate at high speeds even in difficult conditions.

The command structure during the accident drew particular criticism, as it complicated the coordination of rescue operations and delayed assistance to the victims.

The commission also noted the lack of appropriate helmets and the limited use of seat belts. The combat helmets available are considered too heavy for service on the boat, and the seat belts are not designed to absorb the force of an impact, which creates a risk of other injuries.

Last year, the Ukrainian Navy received a batch of Combat Boat 90 (CB90) assault boats from Sweden and Norway.