£500,000 fine for death vessel company

A national prosecutor has ordered a Norwegian firm to pay a 5m kroner fine - almost £500,000 - for a 2007 accident that killed eight people.

The six-month old ship, Bourbon Dolphin, capsized off the coast of northern Scotland while hoisting an offshore oil rig's 330 ton anchor and chain in April 2007.

Public Prosecutor Bjoern Soknes says he ordered the fine because Bourbon Offshore Norway AS failed to give the ship's new captain enough time to learn about the vessel, its crew and the complex operation. The captain only had 90 minutes to take over.

He died in the accident with his 14-year-old son, who was visiting.

The company can appeal today's order but has refused immediate comment.