Swedish prosecutors have expanded their criminal investigation into the fatal collision involving the Norwegian cargo ship Misje Verde and a pleasure boat by naming both the vessel's master and the assigned maritime pilot as suspects. The pilot, who was provided through Sweden's compulsory pilotage service, is under investigation on reasonable suspicion of negligent navigation and causing another person's death. The pilot has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the ship's master remains detained after a Swedish court found probable cause to continue the investigation. Prosecutors have set August 14 as the deadline for filing an indictment.

The collision happened on July 28 in Hakefjord, southwest of Gothenburg, while Misje Verde was operating under compulsory pilotage. According to the Swedish Prosecution Authority, the cargo ship overtook a 7 to 8-meter pleasure boat traveling in the same direction before striking it from behind. The smaller vessel was pulled beneath the cargo ship, quickly flooded, and sank in about 20 meters of water. Four people were on board the pleasure boat. Two survivors, including one adult and one child, were rescued by nearby recreational boaters, while another adult and child lost their lives.

Investigators are focusing on whether the bridge team complied with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). Authorities are examining possible violations of Rule 5 on maintaining a proper lookout and Rule 13, which requires an overtaking vessel to keep clear of the vessel being overtaken. Prosecutors are also reviewing whether restricted visibility due to heavy rain may have required compliance with Rule 19, which covers navigation in restricted visibility, including reducing speed. In addition, investigators confirmed that no fog signals were sounded, leading to a review of compliance with Rule 35.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities analyze data recovered from the cargo ship\'s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), commonly known as the vessel\'s "black box." Prosecutors also said recently recovered images of the sunken pleasure boat support their initial assessment that it was run over by the cargo ship. The pleasure boat operator has already been interviewed by police, and at this stage, prosecutors said there is no suspicion that the operator violated any navigation rules. Swedish authorities stated that additional findings will be released only after further evidence has been fully examined.